Winx jockey Hugh Bowman goes into hiding before Cox Plate shot

WHY Hugh Bowman plans to go into hiding two days out from the ride of his life when he attempts to pilot champion mare Winx into uncharted waters with a possible fourth Cox Plate victory.

HUGH Bowman will go into lockdown two days out from Saturday’s Cox Plate, intent on ensuring he is in peak mental condition to guide Winx into uncharted waters.

WHAT’S NEXT? WINX’S FUTURE ‘NOT YET DECIDED’

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TRACK HITOUT: SMALL AUDIENCE, BIG EFFORT

After Tuesday’s run-through at the Breakfast with the Best and Thursday’s final track gallop, the jockey will begin the solitary final preparations for Winx’s date with destiny at The Valley.

“Obviously, there is a lot of media interest in Winx in the lead-up and we’re now getting to the grand final,” Bowman said. “It’s all something we’re (Winx’s connections) quite familiar with, having been through it a few times now.

“But what I try and do is as much as I can for all the media, all the commitments.

“Obviously, work Winx here at the Breakfast with the Best (Tuesday) and again Thursday morning, which is very structured. From Thursday, Friday, I just keep to myself, really.

Champion jockeys Hugh Bowman and Glenn Boss enjoy some down time on Monday. Picture Jay Town

“Just try and get away from it all and imagine how the race might be run, scenarios that might eventuate.”

As invincible as Winx appears as she chases a 29th successive victory, 22nd Group 1 and fourth Cox Plate, Bowman will not be weighed down by history or tactics.

Hugh Bowman watches the flight of his ball during a round of golf at the Metropolitan Golf Club. Picture Jay Town

“I don’t like to have too much of a plan on Winx or any other horse, for that matter,” he said. “Just basically get myself ready for her and other rides on the day.”

Bowman, speaking at the launch of Winx, The Authorised Biography, revealed he had never been badgered by the public on how to ride the mare.

But he admitted watching replays of her narrow Warwick Stakes win in 2017 was more nerve-racking than the race itself.

“If I take everyone back to the Warwick Stakes, when she missed the start, it was obvious by then she was well into her winning streak and I was riding her quite arrogantly all of the time,” Bowman said.

“And I thought to myself, ‘if I could just sit off the back of them one day, I’ll think you’ll see her at her best, if just come out’ — my wish was granted that day.

“But I felt it and knew it. I didn’t need that again.

“That was a great feeling, the way she went that day. I actually didn’t feel nervous in the race, if I’m honest.”

Hugh Bowman and Winx combine to win the Turnbull Stakes.

RIVALS SCARCE FOR WINX IN PLATE DEFENCE

CHRIS Waller is undaunted by the prospect of Winx facing potentially the smallest Cox Plate field in more than half a century on Saturday, declaring it the perfect scenario for the wonder mare.

As Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell predicted Winx might be rivalled by only six opponents, Waller suspects the final field will be “seven or eight”.

“I’m hearing seven or eight,” Waller said. “When you get a small field like that, you’ll get few others jumping in, making up the numbers.

“A field of eight would be perfect. Fewer horses get in the way; luck is less of a factor in a small field

“You don’t want it to be too small, either. The more pressure, the better.

“That’s when Winx is at her best.”

Winx will be challenged by Godolphin raider Benbatl, the Caulfield Stakes winner and Cox Plate second favourite, as she chases a historic fourth Cox Plate triumph.

Chris Waller says “a field of eight would be perfect. Fewer horses get in the way”.

Other confirmed runners are James Cummings-trained Avilius, last season’s runner-up Humidor and New Zealand mare Savvy Coup.

Darren Weir is considering a start for Kings Will Dream, while Aidan O’Brien is mulling over a run for northern-hemisphere three-year-old Rostropovich.

If Rostropovich bids to deliver O’Brien’s second win in the race after Adelaide in 2014, he will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

If there are only seven horses, including Winx, it will be the smallest field since Tobin Bronze defeated six opponents in 1967.

There were eight runners last year.

Valley officials this year boosted prizemoney to $5 million — with $3 million awaiting the winner. Prizemoney is paid on a sliding scale down to 10th — $75,000 — making the weight-for-age championships one of the most lucrative races in the world.

Winx is $1.25 for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate ahead of today’s Breakfast with the Best, when the final field and barrier draw will be declared.