After a successful local carnival for Warrnambool-based Daniel Bowman, the trainer now hits the road in search of his next winner.
Bowman has runners at three venues on Saturday – Flemington, Horsham and Morphettville – as he looks to improve on his record of five winners from his past nine starters.
Mumbles is the trainer’s sole runner at Flemington in the Who Shot Thebarman Handicap (1200m).
Bowman made a conscious decision to bypass the Warrnambool carnival with the three-year-old.
“He ran at Warrnambool last year in the two-year-old race on the last day and didn’t handle the chopped up track,” Bowman said.
“And there wasn’t a suitable race at this year’s carnival for his racing style.
“He ran so well the other day so to go to Flemington, against his own age for $135,000, down the straight, which he has handled before, it’s a big carrot.”
With regular rider Declan Bates riding at Morphettville, James Winks takes over.
“James has done a fair bit of work for us in the last few months and is a good replacement,” Bowman said.
Bowman was not able to celebrate his two Warrnambool carnival winners, leaving early on Friday morning with Working From Home and Golden Halo bound for Morphettville by road.
Working From Home runs in the Group Three D C McKay Stakes and Golden Halo in the Group Two Euclase Stakes after Bowman decided not to run her in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool.
“I didn’t think she could win,” Bowman said.
“She’s going good enough to have won but she drew barrier three and with speed horses outside she was going to have to burn too many tickets to hold her spot.
“The D C McKay this year is only a field of eight and the better mares have gone to the Sangster, the better three-year-olds to the Euclase.
“It’s come up a good race but if she can run top three, she’s Listed and Group Three placed.
“It’s all about the owners and if she can win a Group Three, open sex, it’s massive for her pedigree update.”
Golden Halo is having her first start for Bowman while he has another two runners at the Victorian country meeting at Horsham.
