The outstanding summer form of senior Sydney Hugh Bowman continued at Warwick Farm on Saturday when he rode a winning treble culminating with Rolling Pin in the $70,000 James Boag Handicap Bm83 (1600m).
Bowman has ridden 11 Sydney winners since December 17th and he leads the Sydney premiership with 39 winners, six ahead of Glyn Schofield on 33 with Corey Brown next on 30.
Bowman was at his best controlling the James Boag Handicap on Rolling Pin, trained by Gwenda Markwell at Kembla Grange.
He settled close to the lead from a wide barrier of 12 and then sent Rolling Pin forward off the turn for the four-year-old Pins gelding to literally roll to the line under his care for a good 1 1/4L win.
Hardbreak Hotel was second with One Way Ticket third, the margin 2 1/4L. The time was 1.35.68 on the Good 3 track with the final 600m in 34.84. Rolling Pin paid $3.90 on NSW TAB as favourite.
“That was good and this horse has being going well,” said Bowman.
“I was disappointed not to be able to ride him the other day as he had 54.5kg and he won well, but he is just an honest horse, a big horse so he carries the weight.
“Today was a concern from the wide barrier as there appeared to be a lot of pace and I thought I could easily get stuck out on a limb on a hot speed, but the horse put himself into a good spot and came back to me and did everything right.
“It is a pleasure to ride horses like it,” he said.
Bowman has always had watch his weight and has had to miss light-weight rides, but the recent rise from January 1st in the minimum Saturday weights to 54kg has helped him considerably.
Rolling Pin has been well placed by Markwell as he has matured and learnt about the racing business.
This was his second win in succession after winning at Canterbury over 1550m in Bm85 company on December 24th.
His overall record is now six wins from 14 starts and with four placings he has earned stakes of $162,050 for owners Mathew Sandblom and S Brodie.