Sydney’s leading jockey Hugh Bowman got off to a flying start on Golden Slipper Day steering short priced favourite Flying Snitzel to victory in the Group 3 $125,000 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill today.

Hugh Bowman and Flying Snitzel win the first at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day - photo (c) Steve Hart

Winning trainer Gerald Ryan was full of confidence leading into the race and will set the Snitzel filly towards the Group 1 $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) At Randwick on April 28.

“I had a lot of confidence in her as Hughie did. She’s got a lot of tactical gate speed early, he came out and saw how it went. She was forced to cover ground but admittedly she had cover. Getting to the 600m he took off on her which was a smart move but it might have been a long run with 58kgs on her back, but class prevails,” Ryan said.

Bowman rode Flying Snitzel like she was the best horse in the race and it panned out that way and went on to say the filly will definitely be suited by the 1600m of the Champagne Stakes.

Ryan’s has always regarded Flying Snitzel as a 1400m, 1600m horse and the long term plan had always been to run in the Champagne Stakes.

The three weeks in between runs won’t worry the filly, Ryan saying that she was an easy filly to train.

Bowman has settled Flying Snitzel just behind the leading bunch and started his move at the 600m where he swept around the leaders and hit the front at the top of the straight.

Runner up Dear Demi made a charge at the 250m but Bowman had plenty of horse left and won easily.

“It really was a dawdle early on and she settled beautifully. She was the best horse in the race and I felt when I went I might have gone a bit early, but I didn’t hunt her out there and just let her get into her stride,” Bowman said.

“She was strong on the line and you are going to hear a lot more of this filly.”

Flying Snitzel, started the favourite at $2.20, scoring by half a length over Dear Demi ($8.50) with $26 chance Strength running on for third.