Hugh Bowman stole the show at Warwick Farm on Saturday with four winners ahead of a rare week off during which he will test a different kind of turf.
The keen golfer will play in next week’s Jack Newton Celebrity Challenge at Cyprus Lakes in the NSW Hunter Valley and return to riding on Boxing Day.
Included in Bowman’s four-timer was the feature double on News Alert in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) and Monton in the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m).
His other winners were Straight Albert for Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter and Eight Bills for Walter’s neighbour Gary Portelli.
“It’s been a good day,” Bowman said.
“I’m having a week off then I’ll be back before I get too fat.”
Eight Bills got under the guard of punters who sent him out at $31 in the 1000m Benchmark 80 race in which he carried 60.5kg.
He was back in the field early and powered home to beat Lady La Douce ($13) by 1-1/4 lengths with Shamus ($8) another three-quarters of a length third.
“It was do or die for him today,” Portelli said.
“If he didn’t win he was retired.
“We rode him back because he has been disappointing on the speed.
“He finds it hard to go with these younger horses now.”
Bowman’s four winners came after he rode a treble at Canterbury on Friday night.
AAP TURF
