Hugh Bowman will get his final chance to bring up a Group 1 milestone this season in the Tattersall’s Tiara.
Hugh Bowman and Chris Waller have celebrated some magical moments on the racetrack courtesy of Winx and they could be set to share another if Subpoenaed wins the final Group 1 race of the season.
The top jockey will team up with the Waller-trained mare in Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm and if she wins, it will give Bowman the 100th major of his career.
In doing so, he would join a select club with only Damien Oliver and George Moore having ridden 100 or more Australian Group 1 winners.
Subpoenaed is a $10 chance and heads to the race in top form, finishing a close second to Instant Celebrity in the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide two starts ago and an eye-catching fifth to Tofane in the Stradbroke Handicap when she drew the outside barrier in the 18-horse field.
Subpoenaed has what appears to be a much kinder draw on paper in gate two for the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m), although Bowman isn’t so sure it’s a positive.
“The way the track has been playing, I would have preferred to draw out on her, but I can’t change that and it might give her the opportunity to sit a little closer than she usually does,” Bowman said.
“Her racing pattern really sets up well for the track and she raced really well in the Stradbroke.
“I’m not overly confident but she is certainly a good ride in what is a very open race.
“I think there are five or six winning hopes and she is one of them.”
The Sydney-based Bowman made a quick dash to Brisbane on Wednesday night to beat Queensland’s border closure and has a solid book of five rides at Eagle Farm, including $3.30 (Neds) fancy Mass Destruction for Tony Gollan in the Winning Edge Presentations 3YO Handicap (1200m).
However, he regards Godolphin mare Exhilarates as the pick of his chance in the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m).
“It was a lucky pick-up with the late decision to run because Kerrin (McEvoy) normally rides her but he was committed elsewhere,” Bowman said.
“She is probably the best of my rides and I’ve got some good ones.”
Bowman will stay in Queensland after Saturday for a family holiday and plans to return to the saddle in mid-July.
