Preferment led home a Chris Waller trifecta to record a fourth win at Group 1 level in the 2016 The BMW at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
There were plenty of fireworks in the early stages of The BMW when Our Ivanhowe, Storm The Stars, Montaigne, Mongolian Khan and Almoonqith all pressed forward, while Bowman elected to settle Preferment towards the tail of the field.
Bowman made his move on Preferment a long way from home and the Australian Cup winner hit the front at the top of the straight.
Who Shot Thebarman loomed on the outside and looked as though he was going to finish over the top of his rivals, but Preferment held on bravely to record a narrow victory.
Bowman admitted after the race that he did not expect Preferment to show as impressive of a turn-of-foot when he was asked for an extra effort and he was thrilled that the son of Zabeel was able to hang on in the final stages of the race.
“He is just such a beautiful horse,” Bowman said.
“We were a bit concerned with the 2400 today, although my ride wouldn’t suggest that because I put the pressure on early.
“He is a horse that hasn’t shown he can quicken, but I didn’t want to be left flat-footed, so I pulled him out a lot earlier than I usually would.
He showed a turn-of-foot and I thought oh no, but I was able to rely on him and he was out of carrots late in the piece, but he stuck his head out.
“He feels like a Rolls Royce and he is one of the best movers that I have ever sat on.
The BMW was one of the only major races in Sydney that the Waller stable had yet to win and he was thrilled to be able to take out the Group 1 race for the first time with a horse that is now a genuine stallion prospect.
Waller confirmed that Preferment will press on to the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in a fortnight and the leading Sydney trainer indicated that connections are keen to find a stud deal for the son of Zabeel.
“It is a great thrill,” Waller said.
“It is a race that has eluded us and because we have so many stayers it is one Group 1 on the calendar that you think you should be pretty competitive in.
“We will just freshen him up and do everything we can just to get him jumping out of his skin in a week.
“You can prepare in that next seven days for the Queen Elizabeth.
“He will race on until a stud snaps him up and obviously as a son of Zabeel there is a few there ready to pounce.
“We have had a few offers, but not where they need to be and his advertising is on the racetrack.”
Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal both found the line extremely strongly and will go into the Sydney Cup as two of the leading chances after they finished first and second in the race last year.