Leading Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman will mix pleasure with business when he competes in the Mauritius International Jockeys’ Weekend at the end of the week.
Hugh Bowman will compete in the Mauritius International Jockeys' Weekend. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Bowman has settled in with wife Christine after their flight from Perth and is relaxing in the Long Beach Hotel and is looking forward to competing against some of the best known jockeys around the world including Christophe Soumillon, Olivier Peslier, Stephane Pasquier and Mickael Barzalona.
“It’s a lovely country and I was really impressed how my wife Christine and I have been well taken care of since we arrived at the airport and at the Long Beach Hotel. The only hiccup was that one of my bags got left behind in Perth, but it’s all good as it’s on its way here,” Bowman said.
Bowman took on board some advice from Corey Brown, last year’s winner and Mauritius based Melbourne jockey Noel Callow and will soak up the international atmosphere.
“I’ve heard many good things about this contest. Corey gave it a big wrap and I just heard he won it last year,” Bowman said.
“I heard the track (Champ de Mars) is pretty tight. I’ve seen replays and I’ll also get Noel to give me a few pointers.”
Bowman is planning to do some sightseeing as well as riding during the week and some outdoor activities are on the cards.
“But I’d also like to make the most of my one week here. I’m someone who likes to do physical things and I will definitely go scuba diving and big-game fishing.”
Bowman was due for a break after an intense Spring Carnival which included Group 1 wins on Shoot Out in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 22 and on Norzita in the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 6.
“It’s been a testing Spring Carnival and it’s also the end of a long year,” Bowman said.
“There isn’t much left till the end of the year other than the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) on 22 December.
“But I’m looking forward to riding the Coolmore filly Crazyonyou in next January’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m). She’s a relation to Fastnet Rock and won a nice trial, but she ran second last Saturday.
“She’s the sort who prefers to be ridden off the speed, but she was drawn wide and I had to press her forward or it would have turned into a procession.”
Bowman will be back to ride over the Sydney Summer Carnival and then gear up for the Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast in January with Crazyonyou his likely two year old ride in the $2m BMW Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m).
The Anthony Cummings trained filly will benefit from her first up run when second to Gai Waterhouse’s smart youngster Certitude who scored a runaway five lengths win at Rosehill last Saturday.
