Bowman hopes to go one better in Railway

Refreshed from a Christmas holiday in Ireland, leading jockey Hugh Bowman is hoping to start the new year is style with a Group One victory on Saturday.Bowman heads to New Zealand on Friday morning to ride Australian sprinter Monton in the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.It will be the second year in a row Bowman will spend New Year's Day across the Tasman."I rode in this race last time and ran second to Gold Trail on Atapi," Bowman said."So it would be good to go one better this time."The T

Refreshed from a Christmas holiday in Ireland, leading jockey Hugh Bowman is hoping to start the new year is style with a Group One victory on Saturday.

Bowman heads to New Zealand on Friday morning to ride Australian sprinter Monton in the Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

It will be the second year in a row Bowman will spend New Year's Day across the Tasman.

"I rode in this race last time and ran second to Gold Trail on Atapi," Bowman said.

"So it would be good to go one better this time."

The Tim Martin-trained Monton announced he had returned to racing in fine order with an impressive last-to-first win at Rosehill on December 4 with Nash Rawiller on board.

"I was riding another horse in the race and he (Monton) was outstanding," Bowman said of the first-up win over 1100m.

"He's always shown class and deserves a chance at this type of race for sure.

"I'm rapt to be on him and it looks to be a great race for the horse."

Monton will start from barrier four and is the $2.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet to make it back-to-back Australian victories in the race following the Gary Portelli-trained Gold Trail's success at the start of this year.

Bowman's weight had risen to 63kg when he returned from an overseas holiday in the middle of the year, but the top Sydney hoop made sure he kept his weight in check during his week and a half away in Ireland.

"I was away for three weeks that other time and I was struggling with my weight when I went," Bowman said.

"This time my weight was pretty settled, I was only away for a week and I looked after it a fair bit because I've got some important rides obviously with Monton and also Schiffer in the Magic Millions (on January 15).

"I have to ride her at 54kg."

Monton has won four of his 11 starts including the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) in the autumn when he defeated subsequent Group One winners Shoot Out and Captain Sonador.