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His mount looks a shade outclassed in the big one on Saturday, but champion Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman still looks well placed to bathe in Derby Day success again this year.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Bowman rides $61 shot Costa Nova as he chases a third-straight $1.5m Victoria Derby, but his boom ride of the day comes three quarters of an hour later in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) aboard Streama.
“I'm not as confident going into the Derby as I have been the last two years, but I'm certainly confident with Streama,” Bowman told Racing Victoria.
“She handles all conditions, certainly the mile's in her favour and Flemington will suit her.
“I really feel that if she can sit off a nice, even pace that's when we'll see the best of her and that's what we saw in the Flight Stakes when she won.”
The Guy Walter-trained Streama warmed up for Saturday's Myer Classic with a strong win in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month.
On Saturday she bumps into a much tougher field which includes fellow Group 1 winners Secret Admirer, Yosei, Pear Tart and Invest.
Prior to that race Bowman hopes to repeat his past two performances in the Derby where he won in 2010 on Lion Tamer, and last year aboard Sangster.
And while punters have all but dismissed the Mathew Ellerton-Simon Zahra-trained Costa Nova, Bowman expected him to run a solid race.
“I rode him in the Norman Robinson at Caulfield and he gave a great feel,” Bowman said.
“Certainly some of the others might have a bit more class than him at this stage, but I'm not going in thinking I've got no hope. I think he's a top-five chance.”