High profile jockey Hugh Bowman has been forced to forego his rides at Rosehill on Saturday but is hoping to be fit to ride Winx in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on day two of The Championships on April 14.
Hugh Bowman above, has been ruled out of the Vinery Stud Stakes Race Day at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Bowman took ill at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and was stood down from riding after race two and after initially thinking it was related to his concussion that he received in a fall from Performer in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 10, it was later confirmed that he was suffering from a virus.
Bowman has been ruled out of the saddle for at least ten days meaning that he has to give up his eight rides at Rosehill on Saturday and will miss the first day of The Championships at Randwick on April 7 but is hoping to be cleared for day two the following week.
Saturday’s nine event race card at Rosehill is featuring the running of the Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) for the weight for age horses and the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) for the three year old fillies.
Bowman was booked to ride Chris Waller stablemates, veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman in the Tancred Stakes and the favourite Unforgotten in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Racing New South Wales released the following statement confirming that Bowman won’t be riding at Rosehill on Saturday.
“Having been stood down from engagements at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, Racing NSW Stewards this morning have received advice from jockey Hugh Bowman that he has a medical certificate advising he is unfit to fulfil riding engagements until 11 April 2018.”
Bowman was on the sideline recovering from concussion when Unforgotten stormed home for Jason Collett to win the Group 2 $200,000 Chandon S Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 17 and was keen to chase another Autumn Carnival Group 1 win this weekend after claiming a double for the Waller stable on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill last Saturday.
Champion mare Winx provided Bowman and Waller with a win in the Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) followed by a win with D’Argento in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Winx had also provided Bowman and Waller with a Group 1 win in the $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on March 3.
The Waller stable announced yesterday that Winx would go for a break after the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and not travel to England for the Royal Ascot Carnival in June but will be prepared for the 2018 Spring Carnival which will include an attempt to win a fourth straight Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley.
Unforgotten’s win in the Phar Lap Stakes has seen her installed as the $4.80 favourite for the Vinery Stud Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of the Victorian filly Aloisia at $6 and Alizee and Luvaluva at $6.50.
Horses that Bowman was to ride at Rosehill on Saturday
Race 1 – Osorno, Race 2 – One Foot In Heaven, Race 3 – Fell Swoop, Race 5 – Astoria, Race 6 – Who Shot Thebarman, Race 7 – Unforgotten, Race 8 – Sound Proposition, Race 9 – My Nordic Hero.
Early replacement riders for Bowman are Kerrin McEvoy on Fell Swoop in the Group 3 $150,000 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) and Damien Oliver on Sound Proposition in the Group 3 $150,000 Mounties 50th Birthday Doncaster Prelude (1500m).
