A ground-saving ride by Hugh Bowman was the catalyst for Nuclear Sky's return to winning form in the $100,000 Stayers' Cup at Rosehill.Carrying topweight of 58 kilograms, Nuclear Sky ($7.50) came through a gap to hit the front and settle down to fight out the finish of the 2400m feature with Come On Cugat ($21) on his outside.Under hard riding from Bowman, Nuclear Sky prevailed by a short half-head with early leader Twin Wing ($9.50) holding on for third another 2-1/4 lengths away.The Jack Denha

A ground-saving ride by Hugh Bowman was the catalyst for Nuclear Sky's return to winning form in the $100,000 Stayers' Cup at Rosehill.

Carrying topweight of 58 kilograms, Nuclear Sky ($7.50) came through a gap to hit the front and settle down to fight out the finish of the 2400m feature with Come On Cugat ($21) on his outside.

Under hard riding from Bowman, Nuclear Sky prevailed by a short half-head with early leader Twin Wing ($9.50) holding on for third another 2-1/4 lengths away.

The Jack Denham-trained Nuclear Sky is owned by David Fuller who also races dual Group One winner Metal Bender, winner of the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas in the autumn.

Although not quite as prestigious as those races, the win was special for Fuller.

"It's almost as sweet because we bred this horse," Fuller said.

"He has been carrying topweight on wet tracks, I think he has been over-weighted and it was great to see him win."

Bowman said he didn't ride a lot for Denham but enjoyed it when he did.

"I have ridden in dribs and drabs for Jack over the last 12 months," Bowman said.

"He doesn't give many instructions although today he did say we might be a bit closer than usual.

"It didn't quite work out that way in the run but I've found when I have ridden for Jack he does fill you with confidence and let you ride your race.

"I thought we'd won but the horse did idle when he got to the front.

"It was a lot closer than it probably should have been but I didn't think the other horse ever got past us at any stage."

The win sets Nuclear Sky up for a defence of the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) in two weeks which is also the likely target for Come On Cugat.

"It was a good ride by Jeff (Penza) and he will probably head to the Winter Cup," trainer Chris Waller said.

However, Waller said he was unsure of where imported entire Alexander Of Hales would head after his fourth.

"I'm just not quite sure with him," Waller said.

Alexander Of Hales was formerly raced by Coolmore and won a Group Three race in France and finished second to Soldier Of Fortune in the 2007 Irish Derby.

Melbourne trainer Danny O'Brien, who is also a shareholder, sent him to Sydney in the hope a change of scenery would help get him back to winning form.

Nuclear Sky's win increased Hugh Bowman's buffer over Corey Brown in their battle for the Sydney jockeys' premiership.