Hugh Bowman proves to be a Smash hit with Manikato Stakes success

ON the eve of his date with destiny with Winx in the Cox Plate, champion jockey Hugh Bowman showed his mastery winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley on Brave Smash. RECAP ALL THE ACTION

Brave Smash fights off Spirit Of Valor in the Manikato Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

ON the eve of his date with destiny with Winx in the Cox Plate, champion jockey Hugh Bowman showed his mastery winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on Brave Smash.

Brave Smash’s trainer Darren Weir put the win down to Bowman’s great ride.

“He pinged the gates and then got him into a great spot,” Weir said.

Bowman steered Brave Smash in a three-wide midfield position behind Spirit Of Valor and followed that horse in the race.

Spirit Of Valor, ridden by Oisin Murphy, hit the front on straightening but Bowman was able to wear him down before the line.

Bowman said the addition of blinkers had made the difference for Brave Smash.

“He was set for The Everest but he found a wet track. I told Darren Weir not to use the blinkers then but they made a difference tonight,” Bowman said.

Hugh Bowman salutes the crowd after winning the Manikato Stakes on Brave Smash. Picture: AAP

Weir said he was glad he waited to put the blinkers on Brave Smash.

Weir said he had great success with Brave Smash’s owners Australian Bloodstock, who purchased Brave Smash in Japan, but the last six months hadn’t been easy.

“They never whinge or complain,” Weir said.

It was Brave Smash’s second Group 1 following his Futurity Stakes win in February.

It was a messy Manikato Stakes with numerous luckless runners.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's forman TJ Comerford was thrilled with the effort of Spirit Of Valor to run second and said Aidan O’Brien was thrilled his sprinters could measure up in Australia.

Brave Smash ($8.50) defeated Spirit Of Valor ($18) by a neck with Kementari ($8) coming from the tail of the field to third.

The crowd of 13,627 was a record for the opening night of the two-day carnival at The Valley.

Meanwhile, Dylan Dunn was suspended by stewards for nine meetings for shifting in on Jungle Edge on to Sunlight and Malaguerra at the 100m mark. His suspension begins at midnight on October 30 and ends on November 7.

Murphy will miss the Melbourne Cup after being suspended for careless riding in the Manikato Stakes. He was to ride Red Verdon in the Cup but he will begin his suspension after he rides in next weekend's Breeders Cup meeting at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Murphy was suspended for 16 meetings beginning on midnight November 3rd.

 

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