Bowman fit to ride Queensland Oaks favourite Winx

Tough Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman will be fit to ride Queensland Oaks favourite Winx after he came through a Canterbury tumble unscathed yesterday.

Bowman was aboard the $2.60 favourite Californian Man who ducked out sharply at the 150m mark when struck with the whip in the $40,000 Cellarbrations Three Year Old Plate dislodging Bowman who had a harmless tumble.

Hugh Bowman will be fit to ride favourite Winx (pictured) in the Queensland Oaks

Hugh Bowman will be fit to ride favourite Winx (pictured) in the Queensland Oaks. Photo by Daniel Costello

The highly rated hoop was able to walk back to the jockey’s room and before fulfilling the rest of his engagements for the day.

Bowman had three remaining rides but was unable to find a winner amongst them.

“He just went and there was nothing I could do,” Bowman told The Daily Telegraph.

“I guess I’m lucky he was just far enough in front of the others, it gave them a chance to react.”

Bowman has been booked to ride the Chris Waller trained Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday and the filly is a raging $2.70 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The leading Sydney rider is currently on top of the Group 1 winning list for 2014 – 2015 and gets his chance to chalk up Group 1 win number nine for the season on the Street Cry filly.

Winx will be contesting her second Oaks after collecting the runner’s up cheque when second to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11, the second day of ‘The Championships’.

Waller then aimed the filly at the Queensland Oaks and she cemented her place at the top of the market order with a sensational last to first win in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on May 16.

The Gai Waterhouse trained Bohemian Lily threw down the challenge to Winx with a brilliant all the way win in the Group 2 $175,000 URBIS The Roses (2020m) at Doomben last Saturday and is on the second line of betting at $5.

Next is the market order at $8 is the Bjorn Baker trained Sebrina who was given the green light to come to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks after finishing an unlucky fourth as favourite in a 2000m BencdhMark 73 Handicap at Randwick last weekend.

Queensland Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Winx, $5 Bohemian Lily, $8 Sebrina, $10 Ballet Suite, $12 Ungrateful Ellen, $18 , Zarzali, $21 Platinum Witness, Rustic Melody, Exquisite Jewel $26 Swift Lady, $31 Champion Stage, $34 Col ‘N’ Lil, Anaphora, $41 Yulong Baby, $51 Imperial Lass, Heavens Above, $61 Shandaara, $71 Whatalovelyday, $91 No Tricks, $151 Mine With Lime, $201 Stewball.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.