Bowman cops 35 meetings for Cup ride

Hugh Bowman has been handed a massive 35-meeting suspension for his ride aboard runner-up Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) in Tuesday's G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Bowman was found guilty of three separate charges, an incident of careless riding at the 500m, excessive whip use prior to the final 100m and the fact that he weighed in more than half a kilogram over his prescribed weight of 55kg.

He was given 12 meetings for careless riding, eight meetings for whip use and 21 meetings for the weight infringement, with the stewards then determining that the total ban would be 35 meetings, or around a month.

It will scupper his chances of riding Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Mackinnon S. and Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) in the G1 VRC Sprint on Saturday as well as ruling him out of key meetings in Japan and Hong Kong, including the G1 Japan Cup, which he won last year.

He will be free to return for the prized Hong Kong International meeting in mid-December.

Five other jockeys, including winner Kerrin McEvoy, were fined for breaching the whip rule in the Melbourne Cup, while Jim Crowley (10 meetings) and Christine Puls (10 meetings) were suspended for careless riding in other races at Flemington.

Import stars again

Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote conducted a smart piece of business in England when he signed for Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

He purchased the colt for 110,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Yearling Sale and the import has now won five of his seven Australian starts for trainer Darren Weir.

The latest of them came on a sodden Flemington track on Tuesday when Fifty Stars was a willing partner for jockey Ben Allen.

“He’s an exciting horse and he needed his first two runs, third up and over 1400 metres was right up his alley,” Weir’s racing manager Simon McCartin said.

“He’s three from three on soft ground, the heavy ground was a question mark but he obviously handled it well.”

A shot at stakes company awaits the 4-year-old in either the G3 Sandown S. or possibly in Perth.

Fifty Stars is out of the unraced Swizzle Stick (IRE) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the former champion Irish sprinter and G2 Park S., winner Viztoria (IRE) (Oratorio {IRE}).

Cups’ quest opens at Kyneton

Our Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo) will open his Australian campaign in Wednesday’s Kyneton Cup and the length of his Victorian stay will be determined by his performance.

“We thought we’d go over and chase some of the country cups, the prizemoney is outstanding,” trainer Craig Phelan said.

“We’ll just see how we go with this first run, but if he is competitive there are races like the Pakenham Cup or even the Ballarat Cup which we can pick away at.”

Our Big Mike, a natural front-runner, acquitted himself well during three appearances at the Hawke’s Bay carnival.

He finished runner-up behind G1 Melbourne Cup-runner Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie {IRE}) at his first outing, before placing behind subsequent stakes winner Five To Midnight (Domesday).

At his most recent performance, he was sixth behind Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

Nordicus breaks maiden in style

Regally-bred Nordicus (Dundeel {NZ} has returned to the track a winner, overcoming some late drama to win the Camera House Plate at Rosehill.

A $900,000 yearling by for Boomer Bloodstock, Nordicus is out of the champion mare Miss Finland, making him a half-brother to Group 1 winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}).

He failed to flatter in one start as a 2-year-old, but having won two recent trials, he put his best foot forward to win his maiden with some authority. Had he not ducked out dramatically late, he would have won by a much greater margin than the 1.3l he had to spare over That Song (Your Song) and Zouologist (Zoustar).

Trainer Bjorn Baker, who had a close involvement with the colt's sire through his father Murray, who trained Dundeel, has a big opinion of Nordicus.

"It's exciting. He's got a big future this horse. He's only going to get better the further he goes. He's a powerful customer. He's still got a little bit to learn," he said.

"Big thanks to Craig Rounsefell and Boomer Bloodstock and the team. It’s a great opportunity to be involved in a horse as well bred as this. He's a horse who is pretty close to my heart given the relationship with his sire."

Family first at Flemington

The Cumani family opened their Melbourne Cup carnival account when game 4-year-old One More Try (Dane Shadow) was a gallant winner of the TAB APP Trophy on Tuesday.

She is trained by Matt Cumani, whose father went close to G1 Melbourne Cup success with 2007 runner-up Purple Moon (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) and with Bauer, who finished second the following year.

Ridden by Linda Meech, One More Try settled behind the leading division on the fence and she finished off strongly for her third consecutive win.

“What a lovely mare she is, a real trooper and fighter and a brilliant ride by Linda,” Matt Cumani said.

“I’m always worried about the saddle slipping back on her, she’s really like a whippet.”

Cracksman's fee confirmed

Champion sire Dubawi (Ire) tops the Darley roster for the 2019 European season, with a fee of £250,000, while new acquisition Cracksman (GB) will stand his first season at £25,000.

Cracksman, the highest rated horse in Europe this season and twice winner of the G1 Champion S, kicks off his breeding career at Dalham Hall Stud.

With a Timeform rating of 136, he is the highest rated horse to stand at stud in Europe since his own sire, Frankel.

Dubawi, the first UK-based sire ever to record 100 individual Group winners, remains at £250,000, having sired six Group 1 winners this year.

Another new acquisition, sprinter Harry Angel (Ire), will stand at a fee of £20,000, while Jungle Cat (Ire), who won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield in September, will stand at Kildangan Stud for €8,000.

Hawkbill (USA), the winner of the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic will cover his first book at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £7,500, while Cloth Of Stars (Ire) , the first colt home in the past two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes, stands at Haras du Logis for €7,500.

Among the established stallions, Exceed And Excel, who recently reached a milestone 150 black-type winners, will once again stand at a fee of €50,000.

“To be entrusted with the future careers of two great speedsters in Harry Angel and Jungle Cat, Eclipse winner Hawkbill, by one of America’s best, as well as the highest-rated horse in the world in Cracksman is a huge privilege," Sam Bullard, Darley's Director of Stallions, said.

"We will continue our policy of selling a limited number of breeding rights, and to that end we look forward to working closely with breeders as we strive to uncover the next Dubawi.”