Bowman seals fourth Sydney jockeys’ premiership

Tom Walter - Saturday July 29

Sometimes the only motivation a sportsperson needs is to prove someone wrong.

Hugh Bowman after winning his fourth Sydney jockeys' premiership aboard Prada Miss at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart

Hugh Bowman's watershed moment came on a plane trip to Brisbane during the Queensland winter carnival when he was reading an article that rated him Sydney's third best rider behind Kerrin McEvoy and Brenton Avdulla.

At the time, winning a fourth Sydney jockeys' premiership was not at the forefront of Bowman's mind but that all changed once he had read the words of form analyst and Australian Bloodstock Director Luke Murrell.

"Hugh gets all the best rides normally and is a world class rider but on recent form and the last 12 months is still behind the top two boys," the article read.

With Avdulla comfortably clear in the premiership standings, Bowman, riding like a man possessed, set about overturning a deficit that was 11-1/2 wins at the beginning of June.

"I'll be honest that was pretty motivating," Bowman said.

"I thought well OK, let's see if I can get better."

By the fourth race at Rosehill on Saturday – the final meeting of the season, Bowman had sealed the title with an early double and finished the day 4-1/2 wins clear of Avdulla, who was chasing his first premiership.

"I understand Brenton would be disappointed but I think he'll be a better rider for it," he said.

"There's nowhere to hide at the top level and I found that out the hard way.

"I think Brenton will look back on it as his best season to date by a significant margin and I think he should be very proud."

Bowman's day in the saddle got off to a flyer when so You Think colt D'argento, trained by his biggest supplier of winners in Chris Waller, saluted in the Welcome Rydalmere CBC 2YO Handicap (1500m) as an odds-on favourite 

But it was a little-known Armidale trainer by the name of Stirling Osland, who provided Bowman with the knockout punch when three-year-old filly Prada Miss defeated older rivals in the TAB Highway Plate (1500m).

While Bowman acknowledged Waller's contribution to his stellar season, he was also quick to recognise the support of his family, trainers such as Kris Lees, Peter and Paul Snowden, and James Cummings, as well as his manager Bryan Haskins.

"A big thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last 12 months. It's been another great season but most of all the support of my darling wife Christine and two young children," Bowman said.

"Obviously there is Chris but a lot of other trainers also who sit and wait for my services so they are to thank equally because they work in with me.

"Without them I couldn't be here. The same with my manager Bryan Haskins who does a fantastic job getting me on the right horses."

Bowman is probably entitled to kick up his heels for a couple of weeks now but instead, he will fly to Papua New Guinea on Sunday to walk the treacherous Kokoda Trail, a 96km hike that was traversed by soldiers during the second World War – all in the name of charity.

"I'm going to need lots of energy from what I understand but I'll just eat a normal meal tonight. The days of starving myself and then indulging are over," he said.

The walk will raise funds for the National Jockeys' Trust and Mark Hughes Brain Cancer Foundation. For more information on how you can donate to the cause visit www.walking2help.com.au.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.