Hugh Bowman admits complacency but determined to get back to his best
These days, James McDonald is the undisputed king of the Sydney’s jockey’s room but he’ll have to try and continue his dominance while facing the best version of Hugh Bowman this new season.
McDonald is coming off his third-straight Sydney jockeys' premiership and in that time Bowman has been riding plenty of winners but not reaching the heights he was when Winx was racing.
The champion jockey ended his 2020/21 season with 52 winners – his lowest tally since 2007/08 which was affected by EI.
Prior to that his least winning season in town was in 2005/06.
“I think I’ve been a bit complacent and I’m sure that (post Winx) has got a bit to do with it,” Bowman said.
“Over the past couple of years I think I’ve fallen into complacency due to my achievements and it’s shown in my results.
“It’s hard to sustain. The level I was performing at for so long was almost unsustainable, I think.”
Bowman’s 2020/21 season was stop-start and he never really got into a good rhythm even though he won the Magic Millions in January and three Group 1s along with the All-Star Mile on Mugatoo.
But it wasn’t the biggest season in NSW.
“I do feel like I’ve been a bit under par during the past couple of seasons. Last year I had the accident with Andrew (Adkins) and I was on the back foot from the get-go,” Bowman said.
“I chose to go to Melbourne for the spring so that eliminated a lot of momentum for me in Sydney.
“It was a season where I wasn’t able to gather any sort of momentum.”
McDonald is in the position Bowman was three years ago.
He is now getting the best Chris Waller rides.
Considering Waller is by far and away the most winning trainer at Group 1 level each season, it’s a big factor in a jockey’s success.
“James is getting the picks because James is doing the work,” Bowman said.
“This season I’m very focused about gathering that momentum and I really want to do better than what I did last season. It’s not about James, it’s about me.
“Chris is very fair and very loyal and I have a great association with him. We know each other very well and have worked closely for a long time. His support is vital.
“James and I seemingly do get the top choice of rides in most races, but not all races.
“Chris has got enough runners in each race too. The reality is, he could have three in a race and not even know which is the best one is. That happens regularly.”
The top jockeys don’t care as much about the premierships these days.
It’s about Group 1 wins and The Everest and Golden Eagle triumphs.
“I really want to get that 100 Group 1s and I’m only one win away,” Bowman said.
“I really feel as enthusiastic as I ever have going into a new season since Winx retired.
“I’m more enthusiastic this year and I want to lift the bar this season. I’m certainly very focused.”
Bowman, who is currently building a new house with wife Christine, has been in cracking form in town during the past fortnight.
The 41-year-old’s riding has been as good as it was when under all the pressure in the Winx era.
But which horse will give him his 100th Group 1 this spring?
He doesn’t have a clue at the moment.
“Sometimes that’s a blessing because you’re not locked in anywhere,” he said.
“I’ve got Duais but my understanding is that she’ll be aimed at the Caulfield Cup and I won’t be able to ride her in that race. If I could she wouldn’t be very well rated.
“I don’t have any other headline horses and over the years I’ve found that’s when you have your best carnivals.
“Something will come along. James and Tommy Berry seem to be the boys with the headline horses this spring.
“I’m sure they’ll have choices to make and I’ll be there swimming around the shallows waiting for a bit of berley to come my way.”
Watch out, boys.
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The new season is just one day old and the carnival will heat up this weekend at Randwick with the first Stakes races of 2021/22.
The Group 2 Missile Stakes and Listed Rosebud Stakes headline the card and we’re just two weeks away from the first Group 1 of the season, the Winx Stakes.
Originally published asBowman admits to complacency – but he’s back
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