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Hugh Bowman rounded out a successful day at Warwick Farm by recording his fourth win of the program aboard Eight Bills in the Guaranteed $1million Tab Big6 Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000m).
Photo by Racing and Sports
Bowman had already enjoyed a day to remember at Warwick Farm having claimed a winning treble when combining with former master Ron Quinton and Monton in the Group 2 Inglis Villiers Stakes (1600m).
“It has been a good day,” Bowman said.
The leading jockey was forced to sit wide throughout during the feature event and would have been hoping for more luck with out of form galloper Eight Bills in the Guaranteed $1million Tab Big6 Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000m).
Eight Bills was the rank outsider in today's final race at Warwick Farm following a string of underwhelming results since his second up placing in Cranbourne's Apache Cat Classic (1000m) four runs back.
Usually sent to sit near the leaders in the run, Eight Bills was today ridden cold by Bowman as a battle for the early lead ensued up front between the likes of Platinum Choice, Jackpot Queen and Floral Insight.
The hot tempo began to take its toll on the first half of the field not long upon straightening while Eight Bills saved ground along the inside.
The Gary Portelli-trained runner found a split at the furlong which he powered through on his way to a 1 ¼ length victory over Lady La Douce and Shamus.
“We've been riding him forward in races and he obviously has lost a bit of his speed and has been disappointing,” Portelli said.
“Today it looked like there was going to be crazy speed with three or four mad leaders in the race and it was a good opportunity to try something and it worked out beautifully.
“What a great ride.”
The lightly raced six-year-old now has seven wins and three minor placings from 18 career starts with prizemoney earnings now closing in on $300,000.
In the past 24 hours Hugh Bowman has ridden seven city winners across the meetings at Canterbury last night and Warwick Farm today.
The in form hoop now sits atop of the 2011/12 Sydney Jockey Premiership with 32 wins above nearest rival Glyn Schofield on 29.