Omei to put rivals to the sword

Omei Sword and Foxplay head the Thousand Guineas market but will fight it out in the Flight Stakes.

Hugh Bowman might have been sitting at home for Sydney’s premier spring race day but instead will be front and centre at Randwick.

Bowman had one meeting shaved from a careless riding suspension on appeal, enabling him to ride on Saturday when there are three Group One races up for grabs.

Australia’s leading Group One rider over the past two seasons, Bowman will partner nominal favourite Omei Sword in the Flight Stakes, Le Romain in the Epsom Handicap and Who Shot Thebarman in the Metropolitan Handicap.

Although he wasn’t riding at Rosehill on Saturday, Bowman went to the track to put champion mare Winx through an early morning work-out and gave Omei Sword a gallop between races.

Bowman hasn’t ridden Omei Sword since her debut win in February and is pleased to have the opportunity on the Chris Waller-trained filly.

“I appealed the suspension because I though the penalty was severe given what I was missing,” Bowman said.

“I glad to be back for Epsom day and pleased to be on Omei Sword.

“I have ridden her in a trial and it’s good to be back as her rider.”

Golden Rose runner-up Omei Sword and stablemate Foxplay, last-start winner of the Tea Rose Stakes, head the market for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 8.

But Waller has indicated Sezanne, fourth in the Tea Rose, is his likely runner with Foxplay to also run in the Flight.

Another stablemate, Awoke, is being aimed at the Edward Manifold Stakes next Sunday.

“Those are the plans at the moment,” Waller said.

Sydney’s premier trainer will have four runners in the Epsom – Mackintosh, McCreery, Torgersen and Vanbrugh – as he attempts to win the race for the fourth successive time.