Glen Boss has snared the prized mount on Happy Clapper in the George Main Stakes with Hugh Bowman to sit out the Randwick meeting as he recovers from a broken finger.
Bowman had hoped to be riding on Saturday when his other scheduled mounts included 2018 Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls who stakes his claim for Godolphin’s slot in the race this year when he runs in The Shorts.
But the jockey has decided to heed medical advice and give his injury more time.
Bowman broke the little finger on his right hand at trackwork last week and underwent surgery to fix the problem.
Happy Clapper is the second favourite for the Group One George Main (1600m) behind Godolphin’s Avilius.
Trained by Pat Webster, Happy Clapper has won two of his three Group One races over the Randwick mile when ridden by the now Hong Kong-based Blake Shinn.
James McDonald will ride Osborne Bulls in the Group Two Shorts (1100m) which features a host of sprinters already holding an Everest slot.
Bowman said the medical advice he had received was that the bone would take four weeks before it was able to deal with the pressure of racing.
“The reality is a broken finger is a broken finger,” Bowman told Sky Sports Radio.
“All the advice I had was to give it time. As much as I was trying to resist that I think it’s best for everyone if I give it the time it needs.
“I wouldn’t forgive myself if I was in a tight finish and came out on the wrong side of the ledger.
“I’m disappointed obviously.”
