Omei Sword tunes up for Flight with gallop

Even a suspension could not keep Hugh Bowman away from Rosehill with the leading jockey donning his riding gear to partner nominal Flight Stakes favourite Omei Sword in a raceday gallop.

After having his careless riding ban reduced on appeal, Bowman is now free to ride the the Chris Waller-trained filly in next Saturday’s Group One race over 1600 metres.

A week out from her major assignment, Omei Sword stretched out over 1000m, picking up down the straight to run her final 600m in 34.9 seconds.

Bowman hasn’t ridden Omei Sword in a race since her debut win in February.

Lightweight jockeys Brenton Avdulla and Joao Moreira have ridden her at her past two starts but with all fillies in the Flight (1600m) on 56kg, Bowman is back aboard.

“It’s the first time I’ve been on her back since I trialled her,” Bowman said.

“It was nice to put her through her paces and it’s good to be riding her.”

Bowman also made an early morning trip to Rosehill on Saturday to give champion Winx a left-handed gallop before she heads to Melbourne for next month’s Caulfield Stakes.

“She’s in great order,” he said.

“She was a bit puzzled going the other way but she had it worked out by the end of it.”

Another stablemate, Epsom Handicap contender Mackintosh, went onto the track with Omei Sword but the pair worked separately with the gelding running a quicker overall time but an almost identical closing 600m.