Hugh Bowman on the hunt for more riches at Eagle Farm

HUGH Bowman has guided his mounts to a gold mine of almost $25 million and he hopes to cap his “mind-boggling” season with more riches at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

HUGH Bowman has guided his mounts to a gold mine of almost $25 million and he hopes to cap his “mind-boggling” season with more riches at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Bowman made a flying visit to Doomben on Cup day, but otherwise has been stationed in Japan for the past month, where he rode winners at Tokyo, Kyoto and Nakayama.

He also managed to get to Hong Kong to partner Werther to victory in the QEII Cup, a month after the pair dominated the Hong Kong Derby.

As the regular rider of Winx and Preferment, Bowman has ridden 12 Group 1 winners this season, including his first major in last year’s Cox Plate.

“It’s been mind-boggling to say the least,” Bowman said. “Winx has come along and taken things to another level for both Chris (Waller) and I.

“Preferment gets a bit lost. He’s won three Group 1s. If (Winx) wasn’t around, he would be a horse of a lifetime.

“Then there’s Werther, who has given me my first Group 1 race outside of Australia.

“The ducks have lined up for me. I don’t think it’s anything I’ve done that’s overly special, it’s just the way the cookie has crumbled. I don’t feel the pressure of riding the horses, but there’s certainly a high level of responsibility and I thrive on it.”

On Saturday Bowman has picked up the ride on Malaguerra in the Stradbroke, Encosta Line in the Derby, Sebring Sally in the Oaks and Cadogan in the J.J. Atkins. Most are double-figure odds.

“I think I’m a chance in all of them,’’ he said “I don’t think I’m on a standout. If I ran a couple of placings I would be happy, but I would like to think I’m on horses that can win.

Hugh Bowman has enjoyed a stellar season in partnership with champion mare Winx. Picture: Jenny Evans

“Whatever wins is going to need circumstances to go their way, they are such big fields and it will be more luck in running than tactics.’’

While Bowman has been on the right foot this year, it has not always been that way. He missed So You Think’s dominant 2010 spring carnival after opting to stay in Sydney for a full book of rides. He had been told So You Think would be scratched if the weather turned sour in Melbourne. It did, but the Cummings stable moved on and booked Steven Arnold.

“I wasn’t bitter about that,’’ he said. “I was disappointed but it was a decision I had to make. Given the same circumstances I would have made the same decision again.

“So it goes both ways and this year everything has fallen into place for me.”

Hugh Bowman thrives on the pressure of riding in the big races. Picture: Mark Evans

Bowman described his stint in Japan as “a very worthwhile experience’’.

“It’s great to get an understanding of other jurisdictions,” he said. “Going to England in 2007 was a real turning point in my career. The only regret I have there is that I didn’t stay for the full season. The knowledge and experience I gained from that trip has encouraged me to explore more.

“Since then I’ve been to Hong Kong, done two stints in Japan, but I also have a young family and I have a great support base at home, so I don’t want to jeopardise that either.’’

Originally published as Hugh Bowman on the hunt for more riches at Eagle Farm