The presence of Group One winner Press Statement in the Run To The Rose has cleared the way for Hugh Bowman to reunite with Japonisme, a horse he admits has caught him by surprise.
Bowman steered Japonisme to his first-up win at Canterbury last month but has not been aboard since.
Japonisme
Tye Angland partnered the three-year-old to his most significant win in the San Domenico Stakes last start when he left Golden Slipper winner Vancouver in his wake.
But with Angland to continue his association with stablemate Press Statement in Saturday’s Group Two Run To The Rose (1200m), the door has opened for Bowman to take Japonisme’s winning sequence to five.
“He’s a better horse than I thought he was, I’ll give him credit,” Bowman said.
“He’s an unassuming horse but his turn of foot was there for everyone to see last start against the best two-year-olds around from last year.”
Japonisme has arguably been the find of the winter and while the first three wins of his campaign were on rain-affected tracks, he showed his versatility to produce a withering finish on firmer ground in the San Domenico.
“It was a dominant win the other day,” Bowman said.
“He’s going to have softer conditions this time and he has performed on the soft but judging by his performance the other day he is more effective on top of the ground.”
A field of seven has been declared for the Run To The Rose which has proven a strong form race in recent years with Hallowed Crown, Pierro and Denman among its winners.
Saturday’s field includes Exosphere and Holler for Godolphin and last-start winner Raphael’s Cat for Gai Waterhouse.
Bowman and Waller also team up in the Listed Premier’s Cup with another in-form galloper, Beyond Thankful.
The six-year-old has won his past two starts and Bowman has been aboard for both.
“He’s racing in good form. He’s fit. The only query here is I can’t see any pace so that’s a slight concern,” Bowman said.
“Then again, he’s got a fitness edge over most of them and his last three runs have been very good.”
Bowman has a full book at Rosehill, a meeting which will be missing several top jockeys.
James McDonald is suspended while Blake Shinn, Kerrin McEvoy and Glyn Schofield will all be riding at the Group One Memsie Stakes meeting in Melbourne.
