Sydney’s leading jockey Hugh Bowman has retained the ride on the Gai Waterhouse trained Raceway in the lead up to the Autumn’s feature two year old races.
Bowman has been booked to ride the exciting two year old in the $100,000 Listed Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Warwick Farm on February 18 and he is very keen to keep his association with the youngster.
He was sure he would lose the ride on Raceway to Waterhouse’s stable rider Nash Rawiller after winning on the two year old in the Warwick Farm 100 Club 2yo Plate (1000m) at Warwick Farm on January 7.
But with Rawiller deciding to ride in Melbourne, the ride was again offered to Bowman.
Rawiller was set to take over the reins on the More Than Ready youngster on Saturday week, but has been cleared to ride in Melbourne on that day.
Rawiller has been the regular rider for Foxwedge and has decided to stay with the John O’Shea trained three year old when he resumes in the Group 1 $750,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
The pair almost bought off a huge upset on Victory Derby Day when they just failed to reel in short priced favourite Sepoy in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight.
Bowman has also been booked to ride Shoot Out in the Group 2 $200,000 WFA (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Shoot Out is resuming from a spell for new trainer Chris Waller and has the benefit of two barrier trials leading up to his return to the racetrack.
The 2010 AJC Australian Derby (2400m) winner was formerly trained by top Queensland trainer John Wallace and hasn’t started since second to Glass Harmonium in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm during last year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.
As well Waller has nominated Rangirangdoo, Daneleigh and Red Tracer for the Expressway.
Blake Shinn has been booked for Rangirangdoo and Jim Cassidy is to ride Daneleigh with Red Tracer likely to be saved for the for Group 2 $175,000 Breeders Classic at Warwick Farm a week later.
“I doubt Rangirangdoo will be ready to win first up,” Waller said.
“If he can get within four lengths of them I would be happy and then he will be much more competitive over 1400m second up. We are far from getting to the bottom of Shoot Out and he will certainly improve as well but he is probably a little more forward than Rangirangdoo.”
The Joseph Pride trained Rain Affair is likely to start favourite in the Expressway and trainer Ron Leemon will decide later in the week if his star three year old Manawanui will resume against a field of slick sprinters.
