After a frustrating run of second placings in feature races jockey Hugh Bowman finally saluted when Sydneysider Amicus took out the Thousand Guineas.
Bowman had finished second in the two previous races – the Group One Caulfield Stakes aboard Criterion before riding Speediness into second place in the Group One Toorak Handicap.
This time the Gods smiled upon Bowman as he guided the Chris Waller-trained Amicus ($10) to a three-quarter length victory over Traveston Girl (Damian Browne, $15) with Sabatini (James Macdonald, $19) a half-neck away third.
Bowman tracked the leader Traveston Girl into the home straight before taking over with 200m to run.
“Last weekend, the weekend before, I’ve had a little run of seconds,” Bowman said.
“They’ve had their chance but it’s good to get one again.”
Bowman said he knew Amicus was a good filly from the first time he had ridden the daughter of Fastnet Rock.
“I’m delighted to win on her,” Bowman said.
“I rode her at her first start and I won a maiden on her at her second start and I anticipated high things from her.
“I recommended to Chris that he put her out and aim for the Princess Series but he’s brought her to Melbourne.
“He’s given her the prep down here and if he hadn’t I doubt she would have won.”
Waller said no specific instructions had been issued to Bowman prior to the race and said a good break from the barriers had put the filly in a winning position.
“We left the instructions open to Hughie to go back or forward and fortunately she jumped well and settled well for him,” Waller said.
“Both her runs down here were very good without a lot of luck.”
