A veteran trainer with two horses on his books and only a vague recollection of his last city winner could be an unlikely ally for Hugh Bowman at Randwick today.
Doing his best to see off a late-season jockeys' premiership charge from Nash Rawiller, Bowman will be hoping to open his midweek account on Stocky in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1100m).
A winner of his only run at Gosford when ridden by Jay Ford, Stocky provides 76-year-old Warwick Farm trainer David Mills with a rare metropolitan opportunity as well as the chance to have some influence on the title outcome.
"You never know, do you," Mills said. "He'll be trying hard to keep that Rawiller at bay so that's one thing in our favour."
Bowman leads Rawiller by 5 wins and both riders have complete books at Randwick where the premiership race will add spice to an otherwise run-of-the-mill midweek racing fare.
