Hugh Bowman makes it a dozen group 1s as Werther eyes clash with Winx

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This was published 7 years ago

Hugh Bowman makes it a dozen group 1s as Werther eyes clash with Winx

By Chris Roots
Updated

Wizard of Odds: Live Odds, Form and Alerts for all Racing

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman has Winx in Australia and Werther in Hong Kong.

But the pair may meet in October's Cox Plate after the Hong Kong Derby winner added the Queen Elizabeth II Cup to his haul in empathic fashion at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The four-and-a-half length win was Bowman's 12th group 1 of the season and a margin which nearly matched Winx's Cox Plate romp. It is a race where they could meet later this year if trainer John Moore has his way.

Romp: Hugh Bowman and Werther storm to victory.

Romp: Hugh Bowman and Werther storm to victory.Credit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

"Next we'll go to the Champions and Chater Cup over a mile and a half here in a month's time and Hugh will be back to ride him," Moore said. "Then we'll give him a break and I'll be trying to pull the owner's leg to go back to Australia for the Cox Plate."

It would mean a decision for Bowman with Werther appearing to be a similar upward plane as Winx. Bowman hinted that he enjoyed the pressure and a bit of give in the track of the group 1 on Sunday. It gave him the chance to ride Werther with a bit more patience.

Werther sat behind favourite Japan's Lovely Day, three back on the fence, and took an inside run at the top of the straight and exploded away from an international field, including Cox Plate third placegetter Highland Reel and 2014 Caulfeld Cup runner-up Rising Romance.

"I thought we saw a great turn of foot over a trip, a turn of foot we haven't see him give since he ran here first-up at the 1600 metres on international day," Bowman said.

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Daylight second: Werther and Hugh Bowman put a gap in them.

Daylight second: Werther and Hugh Bowman put a gap in them.Credit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

"The reason you haven't seen that turn of foot is because I've been riding him more tactically aware. I've had him up close; I've had him travelling a bit stronger than I did today. Today I allowed him to really relax throughout the race and we've seen the best of him."

Bowman was very confident coming to the turn and Werther's dash gave him the chance to stand high in the irons in celebration at the post.

"We've gone a good gallop, but that's what happens when you get a world class field. I basically picked them off," he said.

"I was able to get on the back of Lovely Day, although I had to go back to the inside to do that, I felt I was travelling well enough to follow the rhythm wherever that was.

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