Australian jockey Hugh Bowman has landed his most important success on his latest visit to Britain, guiding home Mick Channon’s stable stalwart Halicarnassus in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock.
It was a timely success on Halicarnassus, as it came minutes after So You Think, on whom Bowman was unbeaten in two rides in Australia in 2009, won the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
“I was delighted to see him win. He’s a superstar horse. There’s no doubt the middle-distance horses are superior over here in the way that our sprinters are better,” Bowman said of So You Think.
“For him to come over and beat the best here means a lot to me and to everyone involved with the horse and the Australian racing industry.”
The jockey visited Britain three years ago to ride for Channon and is on another busman’s holiday until the Shergar Cup at Ascot next month.
Bowman heaped praise on Halicarnassus.
“He’s a brilliant horse and this win means a lot to me as well,” he said.
“I rode him at Ascot when the ground was softer and he’s a lot better on this better ground.”
The seven-year-old entire is being retired to stud in Turkey where his owners, the Karatas family, are based after he runs in the Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul in September, which he won in 2009.
Channon’s son and assistant trainer Michael Channon jr said Halicarnassus was a favourite at the stable.
“He’s given a lot of people a lot of fun through the years and I’m so proud of him. You don’t get a horse like that very often,” he said.
“He deserves his chance at stud and that’s where he’s going after the Bosphorus Cup. They need a hard horse out there and they do a good job.”
PA/AAP TURF
