Hugh Bowman has been cleared of any serious injury following his heavy tumble from Performer at Randwick on Saturday but is still in doubt to ride at next Saturday’s Coolmore Classic meeting at Rosehill.
Hugh Bowman, above, is hoping to be fit to ride Winx in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Bowman was winding Performer up down the middle of the track and looked likely to challenge the leaders in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) but the Chris Waller trained colt ducked out sharply at the 150m for some unknown reason, leaving the leading jockey in mid-air before hitting the ground heavily.
Bowman was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for precautionary X-Rays, but was cleared of serious injuries but was suffering from bruising and a mild concussion.
Racing New South Wales Dr. Duckworth reported that Bowman was released from hospital on Sunday to recuperate at home.
Bowman’s agent Bryan Haskins said that he was unsure if Bowman would be fit to ride at Rosehill on Saturday.
“Depending on what happens there I’m not sure if he will be able to ride next Saturday,” Haskins said.
Bowman will do all that is necessary to be fit to ride champion mare Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day on Saturday week.
Waller was at a loss to know why Performer ducked out in the straight and now the Exceed And Excel colt will have to barrier trial and be passed by the stewards before being allowed to line up in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) on March 24.
Waller is toying with the idea of testing Performer with a set blinkers when he trials at either Hawkesbury on the Monday or Rosehill on the Tuesday before the Golden Slipper Stakes.
“It leaves us in an awkward position but not an impossible position,’’ Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“We will trial him either on the Tuesday before (the Golden Slipper) at Rosehill on the Monday at Hawkesbury if the weather looks threatening. We will consider putting the blinkers on him.’’
Performer has drifted in the Golden Slipper Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and is now on the fourth line of betting at $9 behind the Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Sunlight at $4, last Saturday’s Reisling Stakes winner Estijaab at $6 and the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By at $7.
As usual, Winx sits at the top of the market order for the George Ryder Stakes and is marked at $1.10 to stretch her winning streak to twenty-four consecutive wins.
