Bowman gets Danrho home after scare at Gold Coast

A brilliant piece of horsemanship from jockey Hugh Bowman saved Danrho from an unlucky defeat in Saturday's Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

Bowman had already ridden a textbook race on Danrho to have him well clear of his opposition inside the 200 metres but the riderless Royal Jester threatened to deny the Hawkes Racing-trained galloper a deserved win.

Royal Jester, who had dumped jockey Damian Browne soon after the start, laid in on Danrho when the gelding was at his top, forcing Bowman to take hold of his mount to prevent the other runner crashing into him.

The incident cost Danrho ($5.50 fav) his momentum, giving the runner-up Gallinari ($10) the chance to get within a half-length of the winner on the line.

"All said, he was lucky that he didn't come crashing down with that riderless horse,” Michael Hawkes, who trains Danrho in partnership with his father John and his brother Wayne, said.

"He picked himself back up and he still attacked the line.”

Danrho started the $82,000 race from barrier 10 but Bowman steered him through runs on the inside section of the course to have the race all but won before Royal Jester interfered with him.

"He's a big striding horse so I just said the Hughie, ‘just try and go through your gears if you can. It's a tight track and just don't go from sitting to sprinting',” Hawkes said.

"He's done a fantastic job the horse. He's above average and Hughie had the benefit of trialling him in Sydney where he got a good feel.”

Night Chills ($8.50) finished his race off well to claim third ahead of Crashing.

Brown escaped injury in the incident, leaving him fit to ride Missy Longstocking in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Story: Brad Waters RaceNet

Photo: www.sportpix.com.au