Sydney jockeys’ premiership winner Hugh Bowman has been denied a final victory in his last ride of the season after stewards upheld a protest by leading apprentice Andrew Adkins at Rosehill.
Adkins successfully argued his mount Most Exalted was impeded by Bowman and Wild’n’Famous with 200m left to run in the ATC Thanks Our Owners Handicap (1350m) on Saturday.
Most Exalted originally finished second, half a length behind Wild’n’Famous, but the placings were swapped after stewards examined footage.
Adkins estimated Bowman’s actions had cost Most Exalted ($16) the race after he had to check the Mack Griffith-trained gelding when $4.80 favourite Wild’n’Famous shifted out.
“I established a run outside Hugh Bowman, he took my run no doubt about it … I think that has cost me two to 2-1/2 lengths. I had to come back around outside horses.”
Bowman, who was seeking his 84th metropolitan win of the season, admitted he had “inconvenienced” Adkins but claimed Most Exalted had been reluctant to take a run when it was available.
“There was plenty of time for his horse to obtain that run and (it) baulked at it. I was just as entitled to that run as he was.”
“Under the circumstances, I thought my horse won the race fair and square.”
Racing NSW deputy chief steward Philip Dingwall upheld the protest, determining Most Exalted had established a run and was checked when Wild’n’Famous shifted out when not sufficiently clear.
Most Exalted’s promotion means he has won both starts for Griffith since transferring from James Cummings after he was named Godolphin’s new head trainer in Australia.
Most Exalted made his debut for Griffith at Kembla Grange on July 8, where he won a class two handicap.
