Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman made up for two close Group One defeats when Amicus claimed the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Bowman was beaten on Criterion in the Caulfield Stakes and Speediness in the Toorak Handicap but he produced a confident ride to land Amicus, a determined winner in the $500,000 race for three-year-old fillies.
He urged the Chris Waller-trained filly out of a wide barrier before easing her to take a trail behind the leader.
Despite her early effort, Amicus travelled kindly to the turn before getting the better of Traveston Girl.
Traveston Girl kicked back to hold on to second with Sabatini finishing third.
“I won a maiden on her back in the autumn and straight away I said to Chris `I think she’s Flight Stakes class, the Sydney equivalent to the Thousand Guineas,” Bowman said.
“But he’s bought her to Melbourne and given her a Melbourne prep and it’s paid off.”
Waller said Bowman’s navigational skills proved to be the difference.
“It was a gem of a ride today,” Waller said.
“Hughie backed himself to come across which was a risk but he managed to get her to switch off so beautifully.”
