Emerald trainer's unusual phone call lands Winx jockey

By Jordan Gerrans

When booking jockeys in the Capricornia and Central West regions of Queensland, Emerald trainer Raymond Williams usually deals directly with the rider.

So, when chasing up champion Sydney-based hoop Hugh Bowman to ride Ahwahneechee in the $200,000 Final of the TAB Battle of the Bush series, Williams was a little taken a back when the legend of Australian riding informed him that trainers often go through his manager to secure his services.

“I never thought to ring Hugh’s manager, it did not cross my mind, I just went straight him and he explained that people usually go through his manager but we organised it ourselves,” Williams recalled with a laugh.

It was one of the first rider engagements for the big BOTB Final this Saturday when acceptances were released last week, star hoop Bowman locked in for the Emerald galloper, who booked his ticket to the Final at Barcaldine earlier this month.

Bowman’s manager rang Williams the following day to inform him his client had instructed him to take the ride for Tattersall’s Tiara Race day at Eagle Farm.

Williams, a shift worker in the mines around Emerald driving graders and bulldozers in an open cut mine, had never spoken to Bowman before making the out of the blue call but revealed they did have some mutual friends that may have sweetened the deal for the gun hoop.

“I have a few mates in Emerald that used to work with him and a few relations that have spent time around him” Williams said.

“I just rung him up and asked if he was coming to Brisbane that day, he said he was, I offered him a ride in the Battle of the Bush, he did not exactly know what the Battle of the Bush was at first.

“I explained to him what the race was about and the concept, I explained to Hugh that my horse was in the market and would get his weight, he said 'righto' and he was on.

“He actually did say 'out of curiosity, why would you ring me out of the blue like this?' and I explained about our mutual friends and I have always thought he was the best rider in the world.”

The brand new Bowman-Williams and Ahwahneechee team are tipped to be big a chance come the BOTB Final on Saturday afternoon, rated a $5 chance with the TAB with Tango Rain and Bollente also in the market.

Leading central Queensland hoop Ash Butler qualified Ahwahneechee for the Final at Barcaldine but has opted to stick with Bollente, who is now in the care of emerging trainer Nick Walsh.

Williams noted that he has copped some criticism from those in regional Queensland about booking a “city jockey” but he declared he would have happily kept Butler on, if he did not have another chance already secured.

“We were coming from home Barcaldine after the qualifier and I said to the owner, we do not owe anyone the ride, Ash Butler was already booked on Bollente and I ride all my work so I don’t have a jockey I have to give rides too,” Williams said.

“We thought why not go to the top and we have done that with Hugh, he is as good as it gets.”

Like Bowman, top Sydney hoop Tommy Berry has also locked in a BOTB Final ride, partnering the Pat Webster-trained Oh Why.

The Williams team, which consists of eight horses at their stable, have also brought a young filly to Brisbane from Emerald for the trip with Jinabelle to go around in the 1200-metre QTIS 3Y0 Fillies Handicap.

The Nanango-based Hannah Richardson will ride Jinabelle after winning on the filly in her last two starts.

“Hannah normally rides her and she has ridden her well in her career so far,” Williams said.

“I have not put Hugh Bowman on her, Hannah normally rides her so we are going to stick with her as she has done it for us before.

“Hannah travels everywhere to ride for us and if she is in town at the same time as the horse, we put her on.

“Jinabelle has the ability, but it is about if she can run out the 1200 metres.

“Jinabelle is mates with Ahwanneechee so chuck her on the float with him and we will have a crack.”

The Williams barn are no strangers to having starters in town either, qualifying Hayyler’s Tary for the Country Stampede Final last year.

The winner of 10 career races from 32 starts, Ahwanneechee, made a rare trip to Townsville in May, claiming a quality-filled Open Handicap race over 1000 metres, which is likely to see many of those runner’s progress to the 2021 Cleveland Bay Handicap.