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April 24, 2021

Champion jockey bounces back after nasty race fallHugh Bowman is assisted to the on-course paramedic for treatment. Picture: Getty Images

Filed under: Outdoors — admin @ 4:26 am

Trainer Danny Williams summed up the mood after the opener: “You don’t like winning when that happens.”

Ahead Start, trained by Williams, had just won the TAB Highway at Royal Randwick but the race was marred by a shocking fall halfway down the straight.

Hall of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman, rider of Rothenburg, had clipped the heels of Redicon and crashed heavily directly in front of the grandstand.

Fortunately, Bowman lifted himself off the ground but was clearly winded and in some pain.

But sadly, Rothenburg had shattered his hind leg and it was immediately obvious the horse had suffered a catastrophic injury.

Veterinarians and club officials were quickly on the scene but it was very obvious that nothing could be done to save Rothenburg.

Bowman was met by his wife, Christine, as he walked back to the jockey’s room for further assessment but indicated he wanted to continue riding.

Williams, who lost his promising young sprinter Hot ‘N’ Hazy, in a race fall at Rosehill last winter, could understand the emotions being felt by Rothenburg’s trainer Joe Cleary and the gelding’s owners.

“I feel for Joe and the connections of the horse,’’ Williams said.

“I’m a bit upset for them now. I know what trainers and staff go through with their horses and it is not good to see that sort of things.’’

The Rothenburg fall took the gloss off a very competitive TAB Highway where less than a length covered the first four over the line.

Ahead Start ($5), ridden by James McDonald, finished strongly to score by a half-length from Bellastar ($20) with King’s Trust ($26) a close third, just in front of More Sundays.

The previously unbeaten Ceasefire was sent out the $4.40 favourite but after racing on speed he faded under pressure to finish only seventh.

Ahead Start was having only his fourth start, scoring his third win and Williams has designs on setting the young sprinter for the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko on Everest Day at Royal Randwick during the spring.

“We have a long-term plan to get him ready for The Kosciuszko,’’ Williams said.

“I might give him another run and then try to achieve what Brett Cavanough did with It’s Me (Kosciuszko winner) last year.

“Whether this horse has the same scope, he has only won a Highway today, remains to be seen but he is only a three-year-old and has a lot of improvement to come.’’

Williams said Ahead Start had been a very slow learner and showed hardly any ability early in his career.

“I remember two weeks before his first barrier trial we were about to sack him,’’ Williams said.

“He is not a very good trackworker but he has come a long way. He’s a promising young horse.’’

– more to come

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