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Bowman Back With Prized Icon

3 minute read

Hugh Bowman will be reunited with Prized Icon when the dual Group 1 winner attempts to recover winning form at Caulfield on Saturday.

Prized Icon
Prized Icon Picture: Racing and Sports

Trainer Kris Lees flew to Melbourne to oversee a gallop by Prized Icon and Invincible Gem at Caulfield on Tuesday and check on the progress of other members of his Melbourne team.

He later confirmed Bowman’s booking for Prized Icon in the G3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) while James McDonald will ride Invincible Gem in the G2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).

The stablemates worked separately wide on the course proper with Prized Icon sprinting home his last 400m in 23.53 seconds at the end of a 1200m gallop in 1.21.86. Invincible Gem went an easy 1000m in 1.11.23 (last 600m in 36.00).

Bowman last rode Prized Icon when the now five-year-old finished third to Gailo Chop in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill in March.

He also partnered the stallion in his first victory in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in 2016 when he was prepared by James Cummings.

Talented three-year-old Gem Song, a race morning withdrawal from last Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas because of a temperature spike, is recovering but Lees has not determined his immediate future.

“He is getting there, but needs to recover fully before we make a firm decision whether to proceed with his Melbourne campaign or rest him,” he said.

Smart Melody, who suffered the first loss of her six start career in the Thousand Guineas, pulled up well from last Saturday’s race but won’t race again until the autumn.

Lees said El Dorado Dreaming, who disappointed when 11th to Amphitrite in the Thousand Guineas, felt the firm surface.

“I’m prepared to forgive that run but I’m just not sure which way we will head with her,” Lees said.

Lees will add Everest runners Le Romain and In Her Time to his Melbourne team but three-year-old Graff has run his last race this campaign.

In Her Time will go to the $1 million VRC Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival on November 10 but Lees is yet to decide whether Le Romain contests that race or the $1 million Kennedy Mile at Flemington a week earlier.

With Bowman aboard Le Romain won the 2016 Kennedy Mile, the second of his three G1 successes.

Clearly Innocent, who resumed with an excellent third n last Saturday’s Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, also is Melbourne bound.

He is being aimed toward the G2 TAB Multiplier Stakes (1200m) on the opening day of the Flemington carnival on November 3.


Racing and Sports

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