Form guides might not be Hugh Bowman’s forte but when it comes to an instinct for horses, the jockey has few peers.
Bowman has cemented himself among the top echelon of riders for the good part of a decade and this season has been no different.
He finishes the 2014-15 term as the leading Group One rider with nine elite victories, including the Golden Rose and Randwick Guineas aboard Hallowed Crown.
He has also firmed into favouritism to clinch the hotly contested Sydney jockeys’ premiership which he now leads after a four-timer at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
But Bowman’s success hasn’t come on the back of hours spent analysing form.
“I’m not a deep form student. I ride horses I’m on by feel,” Bowman said.
“I’m not oblivious to things (form) but I’m a `feel’ jockey.”
Bowman’s horsemanship was on show midweek and with a full book of eight rides at Canterbury on Saturday – six of them at single-figure odds – he is well placed to retain his premiership lead.
He heads into the penultimate city meeting of the season 1-1/2 wins clear of James McDonald and Blake Shinn who are tied for second.
Three of Bowman’s key mounts are for trainer Bjorn Baker including Zaratone in The July Sprint.
The rising 10-year-old will line up at the track for just the fourth time in 68 starts and first in almost 2-1/2 years.
Despite his veteran status, Zaratone has been racing in great heart and held on to run second in a dead-heat last start behind Shiraz who has since won again.
Bowman and Baker will also team up with Coolring in the TAB Rewards Handicap and Hard To Hold, who shares favouritism with stablemate Miss Tenpins in the Jimmy Wood Memorial Handicap.
Coolring strung together three city victories during the summer and having ridden the horse at his two runs back from a spell, Bowman says the gelding poised to return to the winner’s stall.
Baker is also keen on Coolring’s chances.
“I hope he’s ready to win. He’s third-up, the blinkers go on and it’s well publicised he’s a much better horse with the blinkers on,” Baker said.
“He’s drawn well, he’s got Bowman on so he’s got a few things going for him.”
