A big weight is not a major concern for leading jockey Hugh Bowman as he chases a second Canterbury Classic win in three years on News Alert.Bowman combined with the sprinter to take out the 1100m Listed event under lights two years ago and is confident of another bold showing on Friday night despite News Alert having to lump topweight of 60kg."He's got a lot of weight but he's a horse that does carry weight even though he's not a big horse," Bowman said."He's won with big weights before."Bowman
A big weight is not a major concern for leading jockey Hugh Bowman as he chases a second Canterbury Classic win in three years on News Alert.
Bowman combined with the sprinter to take out the 1100m Listed event under lights two years ago and is confident of another bold showing on Friday night despite News Alert having to lump topweight of 60kg.
"He's got a lot of weight but he's a horse that does carry weight even though he's not a big horse," Bowman said.
"He's won with big weights before."
Bowman is setting the pace in the Sydney jockeys' premiership with 39 wins and gets the chance to build on his four-win advantage over the weekend with a host of Sydney's top hoops headed to the Gold Coast on Saturday to ride at the Magic Millions race day.
Bowman will ride in Sydney on Saturday and also has five rides at Canterbury including News Alert, who is the $3.60 second favourite in the Canterbury Classic.
News Alert took out the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on December 17 at just his second start since joining Joe Pride's team from former trainer Con Karakatsanis.
The seven-year-old's nose victory over Rarefied in the Razor Sharp was Bowman's third win on the gelding from five rides.
His other successes on News Alert were in the 2010 Canterbury Classic and in the Wagga Town Plate the same year when he lumped 61kg.
"He's in good form," Bowman said.
"I wasn't here to ride him in his trial since his last start but he felt fantastic when I won on him in the Razor Sharp.
"This looks an ideal race for him."
A Sydney premiership winner in the 2008/09 season, Bowman is currently four wins ahead of Glyn Schofield and would love to add a second title but knows there is a long way to go with the season not yet half over.
"My main aim is just to give every horse their chance," Bowman said.
"Obviously I'd love to win the premiership and I'm working towards it, as are most of the jockeys in the room in the top echelon."
The likes of Schofield, Jim Cassidy, Corey Brown and reigning premiership winner Nash Rawiller will all compete at the Gold Coast on Saturday, but limited opportunities at the Gold Coast meeting this year forced Bowman to stay at home.
His Rosehill rides include the Gai Waterhouse-trained De Shamekh who finished second on debut in the Inglis Nursery.
Bowman has had two rides on Waterhouse-trained two-year-olds so far this season for victories on No Looking Back and the very impressive Raceway last weekend.
The jockey also has six rides on Saturday for premier trainer Chris Waller.