Jim Cassidy has picked up the ride on Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, replacing the suspended Hugh Bowman.
Lucia Valentina, above, will be ridden by Jim Cassidy in The BMW at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bowman fell foul of the stewards for his ride on Miracles Of Life in the Group 1 $400,000 Canadian Club Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday when he moved in at the 700m causing interference to Fast ‘N’ Rocking, Avoid Lightning and A Time For Julia.
Bowman was suspended for careless riding and will be out of the saddle from Thursday, March 26 until Thursday, April 2, 2015.
Lucia Valentina pleased Bowman when the four year old mare ran third to Contributer and Tosen Stardom in the Group 1 $500,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
“Delighted with her and she’s going really well but she’s meeting better horses than she did in the spring. I wouldn’t say we can’t beat them, on our terms,” Bowman said after the Ranvet Stakes.
Lucia Valentina is one of twenty-one horses nominated for The BMW which is shaping up to be a great weight for age contest of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Stablemate and 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist is also among the nominations along with tough international stayer Red Cadeaux and last year’s BMW winner Silent Achiever who ran fourth in the Ranvet Stakes last Saturday.
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller dominates the nominations again with seven horses listed, Beaten Up, Foreteller, Hawkspur, He’s Your Man, Junoob, Opinion, and Who Shot Thebarman.
The John O’Shea trained Hartnell will be stepping up to Group 1 company of The BMW after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 14 and will clash again with five of the Waller runners who finished behind him, Opinion (2nd), Hawkspur (3rd), Who Shot Thebarman (4th), Beaten Up (5th), and Junoob (8th).
The Japanese will be looking for another Sydney Autumn Carnival Group 1 win in The BMW with To The World after Real Impact took out the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
