Katelyn Mallyon: Replacing Raquel Clark with Hugh Bowman on Caulfield Guineas favourite Dalasan the right call
The announcement that Hugh Bowman would replace Raquel Clark on Caulfield Guineas favourite Dalasan was not a gender issue, it’s just a reality of the sport, writes former top jockey Katelyn Mallyon.
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Let’s be clear on this, the top jockeys will get the best rides on the biggest days when the stakes are highest.
The announcement last week that Hugh Bowman would replace Raquel Clark on Caulfield Guineas favourite Dalasan was not a gender issue.
It could be a $10 million decision if Dalasan wins the Guineas on Saturday.
Trainer Leon Macdonald would have hated doing it to Clark. It would have been with a heavy heart, that’s for sure.
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She has ridden more horses for Macdonald than any other trainer.
There is a level of trust there, or he wouldn’t put her on at all.
But Dalasan isn’t the easiest horse to ride. He can do a bit wrong and wanted to lay in behind
"I'm just so grateful for the journey the horse has taken me on."
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 10, 2019
She knows this horse inside out, so despite not having the Group 1 Guineas ride on Dalasan, @RaquelmClark is sticking with her best mate. pic.twitter.com/4ZFt0BGU67
Groundswell in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Leading into a stallion-making Group 1, some thinking had to be done.
What if Clark had to go head-to-head in the straight against someone with far greater experience — and lost.
The owners would not forgive themselves.
Decisions like this get made weekly in Australia and all over the world.
Clark will be hurt, and understandably so.
It hurt me not riding Silent Sedition in the (2017) Coolmore Legacy in Sydney two weeks after we won the Group 1 William Reid.
I knew going into the Group 1 that Craig Williams was booked to ride Silent Sedition in Sydney, but it still hurt because I felt like she was mine after that win.
Whatever happens at Caulfield on Saturday will be hotly debated, especially if Dalasan gets beaten.
For Clark, it’s a kick in the guts but she’s not the first and certainly won’t be the last to lose a ride. She will be cheering on her favourite horse in the Guineas, that I do know.
Dalasan will have the blinkers on for the first time but is drawn unfavourably in barrier 18.
If he wins, Macdonald could push on to the Cox Plate where Clark could be first on the list to ride in one of Australia’s greatest races at 49.5kg.
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Mystic Journey (Turnbull Stakes) 5th
Kubrick (Caulfield Guineas) Saturday, $8.50
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Santa Ana Lane (The Everest), $4.60
Nature Strip (Manikato Stakes), $6 (doubtful)
Lys Gracieux (Cox Plate), $5
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Arcadia Queen (Golden Eagle), $3
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Finche (Melbourne Cup), $9
Emeralds (Oaks), $13