Brave Bowman back on horse
CHAMPION jockey Hugh Bowman will prove he is as courageous as he is classy at Rosehill today.
The world’s topranked rider will ride wonder mare Winx in the George Ryder Stakes before being legged aboard stablemate Performer for the Golden Slipper.
The last time Bowman was on the Chris Wallertrained Performer was on March 10, when the 2yrold was at full speed at the 100m mark of the Randwick racecourse.
The colt took a sharp right turn during the Todman Slipper, which flung Bowman from the saddle and sent him crash ing into the turf.
The incident left
Bowman concussed and out of the saddle for more than a week.
He passed a cognitive test which will allow him to ride in all five group 1 events at Rosehill today.
Bowman is not just happy to be legged back aboard Performer for today’s $A3.8million ($NZ4.08 million) 1200m feature — he is excited about it.
‘‘I haven’t been on him since I come off him. I am looking forward to reuniting with him,’’ Bowman said when he fronted media at Rosehill earlier this week.
Bowman watched on from the sidelines when Performer trialled to satisfy he was able to take his place in the group 1 Golden Slipper.
The rider was impressed with what he saw the colt do with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
Bowman also revealed one of the reasons he is so keen to get back on performer.
He believes the horse would have gone close to winning if he was not thrown off in the Todman Stakes.
‘‘I think he would have gone very close to winning. I’m not suggesting he was definitely going to win but I would say he would’ve either just won or been beaten — a neck or less. That’s my gut feeling but I guess we’ll never know,’’ Bowman said.
‘‘He is an exciting colt and has given me a great deal of confidence since the first time I sat on him.’’
Being dealt barrier 16 meant Performer’s Golden Slipper chances have taken a hit.
The draw was made worse when the race’s leading hopes, Sunlight (5) and Written By (4), drew perfectly.
Bowman will also guide champion mare Winx into a wide barrier in the 1400m George Ryder Stakes.
However, with only five rivals inside her the gate should offer the star little inconvenience.
The mare gave Bowman a brilliant feel in her last serious piece of work on a rainaffected Rosehill track earlier this week.
‘‘It was wet but didn’t feel heavy, not on her anyways,’’ the jockey said at a press conference following the gallop.
‘‘That’s the beauty of Winx, she is very adaptable to all conditions.
‘‘We’ve seen her run on lightningfast tracks, in heat waves and the heaviest of tracks,’’ he said.
‘‘What Winx is got is something you can’t really see in a horse. Sure she moves well and is the perfect athlete in our eyes.’’