Bowman guides Falcool to Listed win
A first-up win to three-year-old Falcool in a Listed race at Flemington has come as no surprise to trainer Aaron Purcell.
And the sprinter’s performance to land his first city win in his sixth career start in Saturday’s Incognitus Stakes (1100m) also impressed jockey Hugh Bowman, who was riding the gelding for the first time.
“I didn’t know a lot about him but I don’t think it was any fluke,” Bowman said.
“He won and won well.”
The field split into two sections in the straight track sprint with Bowman taking Falcool ($14) to the inside.
After settling back, Falcool got a split coming to the 300m before sprinting to a 1-1/4 length victory over Ken’s Dream ($4.60 favourite).
Sherriff John Stone ($31) was another head away third.
Falcool won twice on heavy tracks at Casterton and Warrnambool earlier this season before coming to town where he finished fourth in a race at Moonee Valley and then equal sixth behind Speedeor during last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.
“His two wins have been on heavy ground so it probably turned a few people off, but his last couple of runs in Melbourne have been strong and the form around him has been good,” Purcell said.
“So we came here today thinking we were definitely a winning chance.”