THE PREMIER JOCKEY

horsemanHugh Bowman,

Literally riding ust shy of 6.15 in the morning, as dawn rolls the irons one over the grandstands of Royal Randwick, horse at a time, James Hugh Bowman swings a leg over the Hussonet colt Lentini. He is concentrating, Hugh Bowman a slight frown through his eyebrows and gets on with the straight line across his lips, and he nods at job after winning Anthony Cummings, Lentini’s trainer. Quiet his first once round for this one? Okay. And the clock premiership. goes off in his head. One red apple. Two red apple. Three red apple. The colt moves off WORDS AND PHOTOS and Hugh Bowman gets to work. JESS OWERS “Years ago when I arrived at Billy Aspros’ place in Bathurst to do my apprenticeship,” the 29-year-old jockey recalls, “the first thing Bill did was hand me a stopwatch and say that by the end of the week he wanted me to be able to count to 15 exactly. Count red apples, he said. One red apple. Two red apple. And to this day when I ride trackwork I count red apples.” He pauses for a moment, measuring time. “I’ve been through buckets of them over the years.”

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Hugh Bowman has been “top three” in Sydney for the past five seasons.

14 the thoroughbred THE PREMIER JOCKEY

what I did. I kept working towards we had him out at a local show “We’re very different,” she says. “For TIME OFF: Hugh Bowman that goal and nearly rode 100.” and he won boy rider under-five or example, Hugh likes to drive to the plants a kiss Bowman was only two short of something. But one of the judges came races in silence, whereas I love to chat. on fiancée Christine it and his 98 winning rides for the up to me to say that that little boy I love to talk.” She is bubbling as she says Walsh. 2008-09 season were 16 clear of his had such lovely hands. He was only so. “I think it annoys him sometimes.” nearest rival and friend, Corey Brown. four.” Jim is still amazed. Christine has accepted the stress By August, he had put away three The Bowmans have their own that comes with her partner’s constant HUGH titles: the NSW state and metropolitan thoroughbreds at their Merotherie dieting, the frustrations that follow it BOWMAN premierships, and the national title property south-east of Dunedoo and the state of mind that Bowman that saw him ride 150 winners, (about four hours drive north-west of finds himself in because of it. They three more than persistent country Newcastle), and Jim has trained and will be married in December. But First ride champion Greg Ryan. But Bowman raced on country circuits as long as he Christine is a headline of her own. Go Campese, is no stranger to achievement. He was can remember. He keeps only a handful This is the young woman who, in Mungery picnic champion apprentice in Sydney in of gallopers, but they’re good enough 2002, worked for and races, 1996 2000, and in the past seven years of to win the Mudgee Cup now and then. made the front page of The Australian Sydney riding he has been among the “We didn’t ever envisage that Hugh newspaper drilling Media Puzzle First win top 10 of all jockeys. In the past five would be a professional jockey,” says around Sandown two days before his Slatts, years he’s been in the top three. So Mandy. “We thought he’d just ride at win. She is animated, Wellington he’s good then? “I suppose I am,” he the picnic races and have a bit of fun infectious, a quick-talking character Picnic Cup, 1996 says, “but I’ve worked hard at it.” doing it. But when he was riding the and the sweetest type of girl next First Group 1 The cold stats on Bowman read well. barrier trials around here, he must have door. Since Media Puzzle, and meeting win Defier, For the season gone he had 739 rides been around 15, some of the people in Bowman six years ago, she has become Doomben Cup, for a 20 per cent strike rate at the wire. racing saw him and said to Jim he’d be the on-course producer for TVN’s 2004 He rode 119 second places, tallied wasted as an amateur rider. He’s got so Sydney meetings, and on race days over $8.3 million in prizemoney, and much potential, they said, we should she is barraged with racing identities Total wins looked through the ears of Samantha let him become a professional.” wallowing in her energy. in Australia Miss, Duporth and Racing To Win. As mothers do, Mandy insisted But the serious side of being a About 1100 He won three Group 1 contests, her son’s education was important, professional jockey is never far from (by Bowman’s seven Group 2s and three Group 3s. but if Hugh had continued his their minds, and in recent months estimation) His victories included the Golden program at Scot’s College, Sydney, there have been career-altering changes Rose, AJC Oaks and , where he boarded from the age of 12, to their industry, and one in particular. Total Group 1 and when he booted home Samantha he would have become too old and too “The whip rules have gone too far,” wins 13 Miss in the VRC Crown Oaks at heavy to infiltrate the ranks. So when Bowman states. Not noted for his Group 1 wins in Flemington he won his first Victorian he elected to leave school and court aggressive whip riding in the first place, 2008-09 season Bowman is a man of routine, ON TRACK: Hugh Group 1 contest. Even his parents the racetrack, a place he describes he is with nearly every other Australian 3 (Samantha Bowman on Lentini, and every Tuesday and Saturday one of his morning were there for that one. with slow and deliberate affection, jockey when he says that some horses Miss in Flight he is up before the birds counting mounts for Randwick “It was just the best day of my… it was a great day for Sydney. need it. “Personally I’m not big on owman’s willingness to roll with preach out about the issues at hand. trainer Anthony Stakes and VRC apples around . Cummings you know,” and Jim Bowman sighs hitting horses,” he says, “but there’s no Bthings has made the latest changes That doesn’t mean, though, he’ll shy Oaks, Daffodil He will ride for John O’Shea, before he finishes his sentence. ff the track, life is good for question that it helps them to win. And to Australian race riding a little easier from raising eyebrows. On June 24 at in AJC Oaks) Cummings or Graeme Rogerson, Bowman’s mother Mandy delights in OBowman. He drives a slick while I think the changes are a step in for him. It also makes him a very Gosford, as he guided Verrekeen clear sometimes all three and more, and in the memory. “We decided four days black Lexus, buys good clothes, plays the right direction, I think they might attractive customer. Bryan Haskins has of the pack in veteran race caller Ian Total wins crisp moleskins and cool Cuban heels before the race that we’d go down,” golf off a handy handicap, and isn’t need to be a bit more flexible with been Bowman’s manager for a decade, Craig’s last call, Bowman tipped his in he looks bigger than raceday Bowman. she says. “We drove to Dubbo, flew ashamed of the finer things he can them, particularly inside the last 100 and says there is little that fazes his helmet to Craig 50 metres from the 33, including Still, the trademarks are there: the to Sydney then flew to Melbourne, afford. “I like to wear nice clothes and metres. What’s going to happen here is client. “He doesn’t worry too much line, upsetting the stewards to the Benandonner in quiet hands and pensive expression, and we were back in Dubbo the very I like to present myself well,” he says. we’re going to start hitting them harder about too much,” Haskins says, “and tune of $300. It escalated his the Shergar Cup and the talent that won him the next day. It was a whirlwind, a spur “The Lexus? Well, I’d really like to because we can’t hit them as often.” he doesn’t drive me mad, which is a likeability. “I like to see him do well,” at Ascot, 2007 of the moment decision, but we’d Sydney jockeys’ crown this year. drive a $150,000 car, and I’ve seriously In June 2007, Bowman headed to bonus.” Trainer John O’Shea describes John O’Shea says, “even if it’s on other Spring carnival discussed waiting until (Samantha “I thought at the beginning of thought about getting a car worth that England for a three-month stint with Bowman as the ultimate professional. horses. I think I’ve gone on record commitments Miss) raced in Sydney in the autumn West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon, the season that I could win the sort of money. But although I could The two have enjoyed a working saying that I started to use him years With dual Group to see her, and of course we’re glad during which time he learned quick- premiership with 80 or 90 winners,” afford it, it’s easy to get carried away relationship – and friendship – for ago because one day he would be the 1 winner Metal we didn’t.” In February this year, smart lessons in whip usage in the Bowman says, reflecting on the with that sort of thing. Life at the years now, sharing success, especially champion rider of Sydney.” Bender injured, when the champion filly bowed mother country. “When we were statistics of previous years. But on moment is…” he thinks about this for with Group 1 hero Racing To Win, Thousands of red apples later, Bowman has a tendon in Newcastle, all of the over there Hugh got suspended for December 10 last year, when it was Life at a second, “not quite reality with the who broke back into the winners’ list Hugh Bowman is just that. He teeters no confirmed looking like he might do just that, he Bowmans were devastated. money I earn and the lifestyle I lead, overuse,” Christine says, “but he in the Group 2 on the edge of proper brilliance; the moment commitments Jim and Mandy are salt-of-the-earth was hitting with a feather duster guided a horse called Withoutme off the publicity and all that bizzo. It’s (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12. his own state title in one pocket, in Melbourne. is ... not folk common to the country. They compared to the likes of Jamie the rails at Rosehill and caused a three- nice to think you could have all those “He is honest,” O’Shea says of his stable possibility gnawing in the other. “I’ll be in Sydney quite reality have always had property, always had Spencer and the other boys.” Bowman horse pile-up, and was given a six- things, but you have to be realistic jockey. “He has a good assessment Haskins says that the main aims from until the Cox horses, and it’s no surprise that their adds there was more to it. “When week suspension. “That was a terrible with the money too and think about the future.” of horses, and he’s a team player. He here are to win the premiership again, Plate,” he said. only son has gone the way he has. I arrived Mick said to me that I’d ride day,” Bowman says, “I hope it doesn’t I earn and the Bowman can say all this without makes a significant contribution to the and to converge on the spring carnival, “But I’d still happen again. I was beside myself “When Hugh was tiny,” recalls Jim, being haughty or arrogant. He is a man a few winners and get suspended for preparation of the horses, and on race but Bowman himself is reticent. He’s lifestyle I lead, love to be “I’d put him up on the front of the overuse of the whip, whether I hit for the horses and riders involved. appreciative of his luck but mindful of days he’s got a good understanding of riding the irons one horse at a time. down there for the publicity horse with me and he’d handle the them or not.” Sure enough, when he But I also thought it had put me out his hard work. “I earn a good living so what’s required to win the race.” “If you set yourself unachievable goals” the carnival.” of business for the premiership. So I and all that reins, so when he started riding on I can afford to be like that,” he says, and clocked a few winners he was given But Bowman is also sensible about he says, “You’re just going to break thought, forget about it and just think bizzo his own he was quite natural. He Christine Walsh, his Irish fiancée, has an involuntary holiday. “I didn’t himself. He doesn’t pretend to know your heart all the time, aren’t you? about your 80 winners, and that’s HUGH BOWMAN must have been four one time and learned to understand him beautifully. let it bother me though,” he says. everything about racing, so doesn’t So I just do things realistically now.”

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