Star jockey Hugh Bowman will fulfil his engagements in Sydney this weekend after overcoming an illness that forced him to miss the midweek meeting at Happy Valley.
Bowman was stood down from his Hong Kong rides on Wednesday night and there were fears he could miss Saturday’s Group 1 meeting at Randwick, including the plum mount on Surround Stakes favourite In Secret.
However, after consulting the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s doctor on Thursday, Bowman was given the all-clear with his manager Bryan Haskins confirming the hoop was “sweet to ride”.
Bowman received the call-up to partner In Secret when Nash Rawiller, who rode the Godolphin filly to a first-up win in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), was suspended.
With James Mcdonald committed to the Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha, trainer James Cummings sought out a senior rider who knew the three-year-old, Bowman having teamed with her in the Woodlands Stakes at Scone in May.
Cummings admitted on Melbourne radio on Thursday he was “a little restless” at the prospect of finding a new jockey for In Secret at the eleventh-hour, especially given her propensity to be tardy out of the barriers.
In Secret remains a clear-cut $2.15 unibet favourite for the Surround Stakes (1400m) and is one of eight Randwick rides for Bowman.
He also has key engagements on Mo’Unga in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), In Secret’s stablemate Diabelli in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) and Lazzago in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m).
