Jan Bowen is hoping for a case of second time lucky when she heads to Sydney with the two leading lights of her Muswellbrook stable.
Both Casino Kid and Running Bear were slated to contest races on the second half of the Rosehill card last weekend and had arrived on course before the meeting was abandoned.
Bowen had to pack up and make the long journey home without either horse racing, although she said the track was so wet, she would have applied to scratch them had the program proceeded.
âWe had unloaded but I wouldnât have started them anyway,â Bowen said.
âTheyâre my two best horses and I didnât want to jeopardise them.â
Both horses will head to Randwick this Saturday instead, with last-start winner Running Bear to line up in the Highway Handicap (1400m) and the promising Casino Kid to resume in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m).
A four-time winner, Casino Kid was nominated for two races on Saturdayâs program but was balloted out of the 1400m option, which might prove a blessing given the anticipated heavy 10 conditions.
âIn hindsight, Iâm better off there for his first-up run because the 1400 metre race is going to be equivalent to at least a mile,â she said.
âIf it was a good track, I would expect him to run a big race. Being a heavy track, Iâm just not sure and I donât want to flatten him first up.
âBut he is just beautiful. He is going perfectly and I couldnât be happier with him.â
Bowen is hoping Casino Kid can continue to work his way through the grades this preparation and while Saturday is a starting point for him, Running Bear heads to Randwick hard-fit for recent racing.
She is proven on heavy ground and from barrier three, Bowen expects her to be hard to beat.
âShe can handle the wet, she is fit as a fiddle. I canât get her much better,â Bowen said.
âShe will run a big race.â
