Bowman searching for fourth Golden Rose

Sydney’s leading jockey Hugh Bowman won’t be committed to a set race plan from barrier five when he searches for his fourth win in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday on Ninth Legion.

Hugh Bowman

Hugh Bowman will be looking for his fourth Golden Rose win when he partners Ninth Legion in the $1million race at Rosehill Gardens. Photo by: Taron Clarke

The Anthony Cummings trained three year old has drawn the middle of the ten horse field and Bowman was struggling to find a genuine leader from the small field.

“Just on a first glance I can’t see a natural leader. Without a natural leader tactics really do come into play and it’s important to go out there with an open mind in these sorts of races but by the same token you can’t ride your horse out of its comfort zone either,” Bowman said.

“They are animals and they tend to have a pattern. That’s why I’m pleased with my draw, it gives me a couple of options.”

“It’s been a good race for and a good race for Sydney racing.”

Cummings, who will saddle up two runners in the Golden Rose with Peter Robl to ride Fastnet Rock colt Your Song from barrier nine, naturally believes that race favourite Nechita will be the hardest to beat and remained unbeaten from two race starts in winning the Group 3 $125,000 Coolmore Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on August 25.

“Nechita has drawn well to get a similar sort of run she had when she won last start. Does have a wonderful turn of foot and a very good filly, but stepping up in grade certainly here and against the colts, there’s only been one filly to win the race, Forensics in the history of it, it’s a tough deal for the fillies to step up to this grade,” Cummings said.

The John Thompson trained Nechita remained the $2.20 favourite after drawing barrier 6 and will give jockey Christian Reith his biggest thrill in racing if the Fastnet Rock can claim the only $1m race in Sydney in the Spring.

Even though Cummings thinks Nechita is the one to beat, he is still talking up the chances of his two colts who finished behind Pierro in the Group 2 $125,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 1.

“The best runs out of the race were Ninth Legion and Your Song. Ninth Legion got back from a wide gate that day, got back and ran into a bit of traffic before getting into the clear and hit the line really well,” Cummings said

“Your Song was a sensational run back towards the inside, wasn’t the place to be on the day, given drawn the inside, the way the race unfolded he had no choice. Both horses ran very well and I really think they will be in the finish of this race on the weekend.”

Patinack Farm elected to have only one runner in the Golden Rose with glamour colt All Too Hard being rested for another day leaving Nechita as their sole representative.

“We just felt that Nechita was going so well so she should have a chance and All Too Hard, we just feel that he needs a mile,” said Peter Beer, Chief Executive Officer of Patinack Farm.

“I think the barrier is the least of our worries. She’ll  ping away. You have to remember she has only won two races, one in the winter and she came back and won the Surround very well. This is a step up in class again against the colts.”

“It’s going to be a very hard race to win.”

The Gai Waterhouse trainer Kabayan is back from a solid second at Caulfield and remains the second favourite at $4.20 after drawing barrier one with Your Song sharing $9 with the Peter Snowden trained Albrecht. Ninth Legion is down the market order at $17.

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.