Mature Bivouac shines in trial win

GOLDEN Rose winner Bivouac strutted his stuff in a Rosehill barrier trial yesterday as he prepares for a series of autumn clashes.

The Exceed And Excel colt is just one of a number of star three-year-olds – alongside Yes Yes Yes, Exceedance, Libertini, Castelvecchio and Alligator

Blood – getting ready for a big 2020.

Hugh Bowman was back riding after missing Saturday’s Randwick meeting for personal reasons and he had the Godolphin star cruising to a win over Hush Writer.

He covered the 900m in 55.97 seconds, with a last 600m of 35.50 seconds, while top stablemate Avilius (fifth), Shadow Hero (sixth) and Castelvecchio (seventh) looked great behind him.

Bowman said Bivouac clearly thrived during his 12week spell after running a close second behind Exceedance in the Group 1 Coolmore

Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November.

“He looks to have developed significantly to me,” Bowman said.

“I didn’t ask a great deal from him, so until he is put under a bit more pressure we aren’t going to know how much he has improved, but he has certainly come back well. I think he has matured a bit. He was a bit fizzy last preparation.”

Bivouac is on the third line of betting at $10 in Ladbrokes’ market for the $2.5 million T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 4.

Trainer James Cummings may send him to the 1100m Oakleigh Plate first-up at Caulfield on February 22.

“That is one of the significant options early on if we chose to go down there,” Cummings said.

“It is a matter of running the horse when we think we have him ready.”