Bow Creek, one of Godolphin's most impressive performers of the Melbourne spring racing carnival, has good prospects of adding a top-level feature to the stable's collection when he runs in the G1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, November 7.
Time/Date - 16.20 local time/Saturday, November 7, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Flemington/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1600m
Bow Creek, one of Godolphin's most impressive performers of the Melbourne spring racing carnival, has good prospects of adding a top-level feature to the stable's collection when he runs in the G1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, November 7.
Bow Creek (John O'Shea/James McDonald) arrived in Australia only a month ago, but he has already made a big impression.
"From the first time I saw him I've been very impressed," said trainer John O'Shea.
"He arrived in great order and after we got him home at the end of his quarantine he immediately started showing us a lot of ability."
O'Shea said he had looked forward to getting Bow Creek to the races and wasn't disappointed when the right race came around at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day, October 24.
In a race of slightly lower standard to Saturday's, Bow Creek looked likely to gain little more than experience as he chased a seasoned field of stakes performers around in the Crystal Mile.
But when he found clear running in the home straight, he surprised both jockey and trainer with his desire to find the finish line, making up many lengths to finish second, only a half-length from the winner, Turn Me Loose.
"I knew he was a pretty good horse before the Moonee Valley race, but he's shown us he's something special," O'Shea said.
"That was an amazing performance."
Jockey James McDonald was similarly impressed.
"When he finally got balanced he flew. He's going to be fitter and he's also had the benefit of having a run in Australia and Flemington will suit him" McDonald said.
Bow Creek had won five races in England and Ireland where he is a dual-G2 winner who has shown he can handle most surfaces.
On Saturday he again meets his Moonee Valley nemesis Turn Me Loose, to whom he had to concede weight when they previously met.
But under the conditions of the Emirates Stakes, the tables are turned and he has weight advantage over Turn Me Loose.
The Flemington race has also attracted the strong European entrants Magic Artist and Arod.
