Gold Coast a happy hunting ground for Joe Bowditch

Joe Bowditch will be returning to a happy hunting ground when he rides Group One-winning mare Viddora in the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets Handicap at the Gold Coast.

The Adelaide mare has arrived in Queensland in fine fettle and will be having her first run since winning the Group One Winterbottom Stakes in Perth in November.

There are already five scratchings from the Snippets and Viddora will be one of the shortest-priced favourites at Saturday’s meeting.

Her regular rider Bowditch will be able to take the mount despite being suspended for eight weeks at Morphettville last month.

He is riding on a stay of proceedings pending an appeal on January 25.

Bowditch based himself in Queensland for several years and his big race wins at the Gold Coast include the 2009 Hollindale Cup (Fulmonti) and 2006 Prime Ministers Cup (Hard To Catch).

Viddora finished second to Target In Sight in the Snippets (1200m) last year and trainer Lloyd Kennewell believes having Bowditch available is a boost to going one better this year.

“Joe knows the mare so well and we have had a lot of success with him,” Kennewell said.

“Viddora worked strongly on Tuesday morning and that topped her off nicely for Saturday’s race.”