Bowman to shed light on Northern Knight

Brett Bellamy will miss not having Ray Spokes ride Northern Knight when the unbeaten sprinter runs in the Highway Handicap at Rosehill.

Spokes has ridden Northern Knight in each of the four-year-old’s three wins but the jockey will be looking on from afar on Saturday.

He will turn proud father as son Grady will be playing in a local rugby league grand final in Coffs Harbour and Bellamy said it was a shame the veteran jockey couldn’t make the trip to Sydney.

“I appreciate all the help he’s given me. I’d have been up the creek without the proverbial without Ray,” Bellamy said.

But it’s not as if Bellamy has struggled for a replacement for a rider he estimates has won 250 races for the stable.

Bellamy has found Hugh Bowman as the trainer tries to assess the gelding’s chances of playing a role in the $200,000 Highway Anniversary next month.

“Hugh’s not only on because he’s a very, very good jockey,” Bellamy said.

“He’s ridden all these Highway horses from different areas, he’s going to be able to give you some sort of guide,” Bellamy said.

“He’ll be able to compare notes for us and give us a heads up on what direction he thinks we should go.”

Northern Knight has won at Port Macquarie, Lismore and Coffs Harbour from 1000m to 1200m.

“He’s done everything we can ask of him. Now we just need to get a guide on where we’re actually at,” Bellamy said.