Hugh Bowman: I’m happy to be known as the guy who rode Winx

Hugh Bowman told Racing TV viewers on Sunday that he is happy to be remembered as the man who rode Chris Waller’s superstar mare Winx.

The Australian rider, who lifted the Silver Saddle trophy at Ascot on Saturday as the leading jockey on Shergar Cup Day,  iguided the superstar mare to a remarkable 32 victories, including an emotional third success in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes – her 33rd win in a row - after which she was retired.

Speaking to Nick Luck on this week’s Luck On Sunday, he explained: “It’s been nice to talk about Winx this week. She was a very special horse and I’m happy to be known as the guy who rode her.

“I always dreamed about winning the best races, but those dreams changed a bit from winning the races to then riding a champion racehorse.

“Then Winx came along and all my dreams were realised.

“It wasn’t until she beat that great field in her first Cox Plate that I realised how good she was – she won that in a record time – and from there she really blossomed.”

Winx, who won the prestigious Cox Plate a record four times, retired with a remarkable 37 wins to her name from 43 starts, and Bowman believes that her trainer deserves immense credit.

“She was good all the time, and for a long period of time,” he recalled.

“She was around at the same time as Enable who was great but couldn’t do it every time. Winx could.

“She was beautifully managed by Chris Waller. He’s very patient and his attention to detail is second to none, as is his work ethic. He pushes when he needs to push and has an amazing ability to get the best out of people around him. He’s a very good listener.

“It’s hard to put into words, it was an amazing journey. It was so satisfying that she ended with that unbeaten run as the expectation was becoming more and more unrealistic.

“She was – and still is – a household name.”

Bowman - who also lifted the Silver Saddle when part of a winning Rest of The World team at the 2007 Shergar Cup during a spell with Mick Channon - is one of the most well-travelled riders around, having spent lengthy periods of time riding in both the UK and Hong Kong as well as his native Australia.

He explained: “Every time I travelled, I returned home a more accomplished jockey and a more accomplished human being.

“You mature and you find yourself. It’s easy to stay at home in your comfort zone and find your level, whatever that is.

“But if you get out and travel then you have to make more effort with people, with the language, and it’s good for you.”

Unlike many in the sport, Bowman didn’t grow up around horse racing, though he did have experience of animals from an early age on his parents’ cattle and sheep farms.

He recalled fondly: “I grew up on a farm about five hours from Sydney, I wasn’t from a horse racing family but animals were part of my background.

“I had a great childhood and we were a close family, and that time with animals in my early life really helped me understand their idiosyncrasies.

“Then when I was at boarding school my parents would visit and take me to Randwick and I just loved the sound of the horses coming down the straight.

“I knew what I wanted to do straight away after that. I wanted to be a jockey.”