Bowman and Rudy take on Benzini in Brisbane Cup

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will ride Rudy for the first time in three years in the Brisbane Cup hoping for better luck than the last time they combined.

Bowman rode Rudy in the 2014 Queensland Derby but after being caught deep, Rudy weakened in the straight to finish 17th behind Sonntag.

Rudy, who has gone on to win eight races and $ 884,000 prize money, runs in Brisbane’s oldest stakes race at Doomben today. The gelding confirmed his liking for Doomben at his past two starts, running third in the group one Doomben Cup and second in the group two P J O’Shea Stakes last Saturday.

In both those races Rudy was ridden by Tim Clark but he has commitments in Sydney today.

Rudy’s owner Tom Clarke was walking out of Doomben last week, spotted Bowman and quickly booked him for the Brisbane Cup ride.

Trainer Helen Page said it would have been nice to have Clark aboard Rudy in the Cup.

“But Hugh is a world class jockey and he probably owes us one,” Page said.

Among Rudy’s opposition is last year’s Brisbane Cup winner, New Zealander Benzini, who is aiming to become the first horse in 52 years to claim back- to- back wins.

Kelly McCulloch will ride Benzini, replacing her sister Rosie Myers who is sidelined by injury. “If we could win back- to- back Cups it would certainly be something to talk about around the dinner table,” McCullough said.

Bjorn Baker doesn’t anticipate gun mare Bonny O’Reilly gaining promotion to the Stradbroke Handicap, and now the focus is on overcoming a wide gate to extend her winning streak.

The four- year- old is an emergency for today’s A$ 1.5 million race at Doomben and Baker does not expect her status to change.

“We are resigned to the fact Bonny O’Reilly will run in the Dane Ripper,” he said.

Baker had no regrets about putting Bonny O’Reilly in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes last weekend rather than the Moreton Cup which offered the winner direct entry into the Stradbroke.

“I took the soft option but there’s no regrets,” he said. “What will be, will be.”

Baker’s focus i s now on Bonny O’Reilly, the joint $ 4 favourite with Godolphin’s Raiment, defying a wide draw in the Dane Ripper Stakes ( 1350m). She is likely to start from gate 13 after scratchings.

Baker i s still represented in the Stradbroke by Egyptian Symbol, with the four- year- old rated a $ 17 chance.

“It’s a tough race but she gets in with a good weight ( 53.5kg),” Baker said.

“She’s definitely not out of it.”