Over the past six weeks Sydney’s premier jockey Hugh Bowman has ridden at major meetings in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brisbane.
But he admitted it was nice to be back in familiar territory after he booted home Static Lift to win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
His global travels mean Bowman has almost certainly relinquished his title to James McDonald this season with the latter 30 plus wins ahead.
Most of Bowman’s time since the Sydney autumn carnival was spent in Japan.
“It’s good to be back home and to ride a winner,” Bowman said.
“Japan was very different. The races are very strategic and the horses there are very strong.
“It wasn’t a holiday, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t swap Australia.
“I can’t remember when I last rode a winner in Sydney.”
It was in fact April 23 when he steered Murphy’s Delight to win at Rosehill.
Static Lift, who wears Dato Tan Chin Nam’s famous black and white checks carried by Melbourne Cup winners Saintly and Viewed, was the second winner on the day for trainer James Cummings.
Earlier, Most Exalted gave Cummings the first leg of his winning double in the red and black of Gooree, the same colours sported by Champagne Stakes winner Prized Icon who gave the trainer his first Group One win in his own right since the death of his grandfather Bart.
Despite being away for several weeks, Bowman has been far from forgotten with leading trainers snapping him up for Group One rides at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
He rides Encosta Line in the Queensland Derby and his Chris Waller-trained stablemate Sebring Sally in the Queensland Oaks, Malaguerra for Lee and Anthony Freedman in the Stradbroke Handicap and the Bjorn Baker-trained Cadogan in the JJ Atkins Stakes.
After the Brisbane winter carnival ends, Bowman intends to take some time off to spend with his family before gearing up for the spring when he will be reunited with the Waller-trained champion Winx.
