Champion jockey Hugh Bowman says he feels honoured to have been invited by Chris Waller to take the reins of Aeliana in the final edition of the Cox Plate before Moonee Valley undergoes its redevelopment.
Bowman and Waller famously teamed up with Winx to dominate the Cox Plate four times, and the Hong Kong-based rider quickly accepted Waller’s offer to partner Aeliana when contacted last week.
Aeliana joins Via Sistina and Buckaroo as part of Waller’s three-strong team for Saturday’s Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
“Moonee Valley brings many great memories to both of us as a partnership,” Bowman said.
“The history of Winx and with Chris deciding to run Aeliana, he reached out to see if I would be interested in coming back.
“I was delighted to get the call, really proud to be back on Australian soil and really proud to be competing in the final event on this course before it is redeveloped.”
At $8, Aeliana is fourth in betting for Saturday’s race behind Via Sistina ($2.20), Antino ($3.90) and Treasurethe Moment.
Bowman said Waller’s confidence in the mare gives him all the reassurance he needs heading into the Group 1 feature.
“That is enough for me,” Bowman said.
“I have had absolutely nothing to do with her (Aeliana) physically, but I’ve watched her replays intently, and I have a good understanding from doing that.
“I think it’s a very interesting race. All the lead-up form is there for everyone to see, but all the races have been run so slow.
“With Globe coming out, although he led at some ridiculously slow pace the other day, he did appear to be the natural leader in the race.
“It’s a really interesting event. It’s going to be extremely tactical, but ultimately you will see the best horse come to the fore.”
Some critics have questioned Aeliana’s fifth in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, but Bowman insists it was better than it looked on paper.
“If she had had the opportunity to build her momentum and get into gear, she could have easily finished a couple of lengths closer,” Bowman said.
“Even a length closer and she would be on the forefront of everyone’s minds.
“This style of race (on Saturday) is not going to suit the more favoured runners, and I think a more genuine speed will play into everyone’s hands.
“I have a healthy respect for Antino, particularly with the uncertainty of how the race will be run.
“I just want to go out there and do my job and ensure Aeliana can run a peak performance and if circumstances suit, who is to say she can’t get over the top of them.
“I truly believe she can.”
If you’re planning to back a runner in the Cox Plate, make sure to compare markets from the top Australian betting sites such as Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and TAB for the best odds.