Sydney premiership leader Hugh Bowman got off to a flying start at Scone’s showpiece Saturday meeting with an early double in the opening two races.
The Peter Snowden-trained Komodo produced a fast-finishing performance to take out the Zizou @ Turangga Farm Maiden Plate (1300m) by a head over All Serene.
Bowman then got the better of a Snowden-trained runner as the Chris Waller-prepared import Sour Mash held off Tunes by a nose in the Segenhoe Stud Benchmark 75 Handicap (2200m).
Komodo’s victory didn’t come without some anxious moments as the gelding was difficult to load into the barriers prior to the start.
“It was a nice win,” Bowman said.
“He’s a bit immature in the head still. The penny hasn’t dropped but he gives you a magic feel.”
Snowden was in Brisbane for the Doomben Cup meeting but stable foreman Brad Widdup said he wasn’t concerned when Bowman had the son of Lonhro well back in the field.
Bowman peeled the gelding to the outside and he attacked the line like a horse that would relish even further.
He reeled in leader All Serene with Revenge a neck away third.
“It was a big win,” Widdup said.
“He’s going to be that type of horse. He’s still learning but it was the first time he’s been on a big track and it really suited him.”
Revenge, trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, had to survive a protest from trainer Tim Martin who prepared fourth-placed Amphlett ridden by Jay Ford.
Josh Adams bumped Amphlett twice early in the straight but stewards were not satisfied it cost Amphlett the long head margin.
“Had the margin been shorter it might have gone your way,” chief steward Ray Murrihy told Martin.
Bowman is chasing a second Sydney premiership and his nearest challenger Nash Rawiller, who was 8-1/-2 wins behind going into Saturday, was in Brisbane for the Doomben meeting.
The 2008/09 premiership winner said Sour Mash was a nice stayer in the making.
Sour Mash became the latest Waller-trained import to win a metropolitan event in Australia.
