Bowman to Shoot for more Apollo success
By Mandy Cottell and Mathew
Hugh Bowman will be out to add to his impressive Apollo Stakes haul aboard Shoot Out on Saturday but fears gun sprinter Rain Affair will spoil the party.
Bowman's recent record in the Group Two feature is outstanding.
He has won three of the past five runnings aboard Desert War (2007), Racing To Win (2008) and Danleigh in 2010.
Shoot Out opened second favourite with TAB Sportsbet on Wednesday and at $8 was the only runner under double-figure odds outside the $1.40 favourite Rain Affair.
"I don't know if he'll beat Rain Affair. He's in good form and is a six and seven furlong (1200m and 1400m) horse, whereas my horse is a mile (1600m) to 2000-metre horse," Bowman said.
"My horse should show natural improvement.
"It was a great run first-up and we want to see him improve again and hopefully he does win.
"But the way Rain Affair went (in the Expressway) he's going to be hard to beat over the seven furlongs."
Rain Affair turned on a dazzling display of speed to score a four-length win in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 11.
Shoot Out finished third at what was his first run for new trainer Chris Waller and the first time Bowman had ridden the five-year-old in a race.
Bowman expects him to be better suited up to 1400 metres at Rosehill.
"I think he will (improve on Saturday), just with that match practice under his belt now," Bowman said.
"He had been off the scene a long time and might just take a run to get him back into gear. I'm sure he'll run a good race."
Formerly trained by John Wallace, Shoot Out was one of the stars of the Sydney autumn two years ago when he won the Group One Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby.
He returned in the spring with impressive victories in both the Bletchingly and JJ Liston Stakes in Melbourne but has not won a race since despite some handy performances.
He has drawn barrier six in the Apollo and will be one of four runners for Waller along with Rangirangdoo (barrier 11), Danleigh (10) and Hawk Island (13).
Rain Affair has drawn gate 12 and will be having his first test beyond 1200 metres.
© Australian Associated Press Pty Limited (AAP) 2012
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