Hugh Bowman in box seat to claim $3m Guineas double
Star jockey Hugh Bowman’s Caulfield Guineas hopes have taken a big hit at today’s barrier draw - but the leading hoop is confident he can land a $3m double on Saturday.
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Caulfield Guineas favourite and jockey Hugh Bowman face a huge task in Saturday’s $2 million race after receiving a horror gate at today’s barrier draw.
The star colt, who will wear blinkers on Saturday after working well in them earlier, was the first horse selected at the draw, but unfortunately ended up with barrier 18.
Bowman, who replaces Raquel Clark on the colt, will need every bit of his guile to traverse the course around the 1600m from a wide gate.
Trainer Leon Macdonald said he was disappointed with the gate, but confident Bowman can give the horse every chance.
“It’s not ideal, but a barrier’s a barrier,” Macdonald said.
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Dalasan eases from $2.50 to $2.90 'Final Field' favourite for Saturday's Caulfield Guineas at @MelbRacingClub Caulfield following the barrier draw.https://t.co/eFNzrNk32y pic.twitter.com/ChWWK1cnjO
— TABcomau Media (@tabcomaumedia) October 8, 2019
“We’ve got to hope for the best. Hugh is one of the best jockeys in Australia, if not the best, so he’ll do her justice.”
One of the other leading chances, Chris Waller’s Kubrick, also drew poorly in gate 17. Last start winner Alligator Blood drew barrier 13.
Bowman made the trip to Caulfield for his first ride on Dalasan and earlier said the addition of blinkers to the quirky but brilliant colt put the favourite right in the frame to win the $2 million race.
“There were no quirks this morning,” Bowman said. “He worked in the blinkers and I am pretty sure they will be on him for Saturday.”
Caulfield Guineas hope Kubrick and Toorak Handicap contender Night’s Watch sizzled around a damp Caulfield at 4.30am this morning. Full details of trackwork later this morning @superracing. pic.twitter.com/uSxQ7Siq1L
— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) October 7, 2019
“(The blinkers) might just help him focus up when he needs to.
“He wanted to lay in a little bit over the final couple of hundred metres. I know he showed that in his races too, but to me that’s not a problem. It is just a case of trying to keep him concentrating at the business end of the race on Saturday.
“He is hitting form at the right time. I think he is a 1600m-2000 type of horse. The distance is going to be in his favour.”
BOWMAN FARES BETTER IN THOUSAND GUINEAS
Flit’s strong grip on Saturday’s $1 million Thousand Guineas became almost vice-like after the Godolphin filly locked in gate two at the barrier draw.
Just six hours after the star filly produced a hot gallop around Caulfield, connections drew the inside gate that Bowman had earlier declared his wish.
Flit, who was luckless last start, is currently a $2 favourite for the race.
Godolphin’s two other representatives — Blue Diamond winner Lyre ($7) and Tenley ($15) — drew gates three and seven respectively.
Missile Mantra ($7) drew awkwardly in gate 11 and last start winning Acting ($11) was allocated barrier six.
Godolphin’s duo in the Schillaci Stakes — which books entry into the $14 million Everest — Trekking and Viridine drew barriers five and six respectively.
Booker was allocated barrier four, Bons Away got barrier eight and Ball Of Muscle seven.
Bowman is buoyant he can win the Caulfield Guineas-Thousand Guineas double on Saturday, with the addition of blinkers to Dalasan (Caulfield Guineas) to help its chances after Flit produced her blistering track gallop on Tuesday.
After drawing Barrier No. 2, Flit remains the $2 favourite in Saturday's Thousand Guineas. Lyre & Missile Mantra sit on the second line of betting @ $7 each! pic.twitter.com/nnsT4M0zAu
— TAB (@tabcomau) October 8, 2019
Just moments after hopping off the colt, Bowman’s confidence levels on Flit rose as she outpointed talented stablemate Tenley in a slick gallop that will surely tighten her quote as $1 million Thousand Guineas favourite.
Bowman couldn’t have been happier with Flit’s gallop, saying her luckless run in the Guineas Prelude showed she is ready to win again.
“We are expecting her to win on Saturday,” he said.
“She has bounced through that (last) run. She should have won them and hopefully she can win on Saturday.”
WALLER JUGGERNAUT TO ROLL ON
James McDonald is increasingly confident impressive colt Kubrick can emulate his sire Shooting To Win by winning Saturday’s $2 million Caulfield Guineas to keep the Chris Waller Group 1 juggernaut rolling on.
McDonald won the 2014 Caulfield Guineas on Shooting To Win and again last year with The Autumn Sun.
Fresh from a Group 1 on Funstar for Waller in Sydney last weekend, the star jockey had his confidence levels rise after Kubrick turned in a sizzling gallop on the Caulfield course proper, partnering Waller’s Toorak Handicap chance Night’s Watch, and getting around the course with ease.
Kubrick later drew barrier 17 to put a small dent in his hopes, but McDonald was pleased with the horse’s early gallop.
“They are very similar, both in looks and attitude,” McDonald said of Kubrick’s connection to Shooting To Win.
“He (Kubrick) is in really good order and I think he is ready to run a peak performance.
“He has been running really well in Sydney (fifth in the Golden Rose) and met some really good opposition up there.
“This is a very winnable Guineas and I think I am on the right horse.”
He said Kubrick adapted to his first look at Caulfield better than The Autumn Sun did on the corresponding Tuesday last year.
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“He got around (Caulfield) brilliantly,” he said. “I rode The Autumn Sun here last year (on the Tuesday before the race) and he was a bit like a fish out of water (on his first look at the track). But this one, he adapted really well.”
“That gallop was pretty good. I think he will be hard to beat. He is ready for a peak performance and apart from Dalasan, it is pretty open.”
He was also pleased with the gallop of Night’s Watch, who was piloted by Michael Walker early this morning.
McDonald will ride the horse on Saturday.
“He flew ... I couldn’t be any happier with him,” he said.
TAB BETTING ANALYSIS
CAULFIELD GUINEAS
$3 Dalasan ($2.90 after the barrier draw)
$6 Alligator Blood ($5.50 after the barrier draw)
$6.50 Kubrick ($6 after the barrier draw)
$11 Super Seth ($13 after the barrier draw), Express Pass ($13 after the barrier draw)
$13 Subedar ($13 after the barrier draw)
$15 Soul Patch ($13 after the barrier draw)
$18 The Holy One ($21 after the barrier draw), Roccabascerana ($18 after the barrier draw)
$21+ Others
THOUSAND GUINEAS
$2 Flit ($2 after the barrier draw)
$7 Lyre ($7 after the barrier draw), Missile Mantra ($7 after the barrier draw)
$11 Acting ($11 after the barrier draw)
$13 Emeralds ($13 after the barrier draw)
$15 Tenley ($15 after the barrier draw)
$17 Southbank ($21 after the barrier draw)
$21+ Others
SCHILLACI STAKES
$2.80 Trekking ($2.80 after the barrier draw)
$6 The Bostonian ($5.50 after the barrier draw), Bons Away ($7 after the barrier draw)
$7.50 Viridine ($7.50 after the barrier draw), Booker ($6 after the barrier draw)
$10 Ball Of Muscle ($10 after the barrier draw)
$11 Despatch ($11 after the barrier draw)
$34 Rebel King ($34 after the barrier draw), Ashlor ($34 after the barrier draw)
LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS