She made her 710-metre debut at Albion Park the following week where, after leading almost all of the way, was run down in the shadows of the post by fellow Gold Cup combatant Bad And Boujee on a rain-affected track.
Eye Catching was $11 with TAB to win the Gold Cup on Wednesday afternoon, despite The Greyhound Recorder marking her $2.70.
“I’m not surprised she’s $11 because there’s probably four of the best stayers in Australia lining up and she hasn’t won over the trip yet,” Bowe said.
“She’s only a very young stayer.
“I had initially thought she’d be a stayer but then after her first couple of runs over 630 (at Ipswich) I wasn’t overly convinced she’d get the trip.
“But she has come back better and I’m very happy with her at this stage.”
Greyhound racing courses through Bowe’s blood, growing up with the sport through his father Gerard and grandfather’s involvement as trainers, but became fully committed at the age of 26.
He said he had trained a number of “honest dogs” throughout his career, but a highlight came with Slick Raven, another smart stayer, who qualified for the 2019 Bold Trease Final at Sandown.
Bowe noted comparisons between Eye Catching and Slick Raven, who posted a time of 36.95 over the Ipswich 610m at her 16th start – the equal seventh fastest time recorded over the track and trip – before going on to win over 700+ metres in Brisbane and Sydney.
Slick Raven whelped a litter by Orson Allen in December.