Bowe sweats on dry track for Eye Catching

By Alex Nolan

Clifton trainer Justin Bowe has been sweating it out on the tools this week but hopes the rain associated with a cool change predicted for Thursday can hold off until after the Group 3 Gold Cup Final at Albion Park.

Bowe’s lightly raced stayer Eye Catching will be having just her third start over 710 metres when she jumps from the inside box in the co-main event at headquarters.

The 28-month-old bitch by Dyna Double One lived up to her name when she ran on strongly to finish second behind Nicks Bale in last week’s heats.

After a hot and humid start to the week, up to 60mm of rain and lower temperatures are forecast for Brisbane on Thursday.

While cooler weather would be welcomed on site for the builder by trade, Bowe believes significant rain would dampen Eye Catching’s chances in the $150,000 feature, which comes up as the sixth event on the card.  

“What I’m hoping for is that she’s in front and they’re trying to catch her,” he said.

“I doesn’t matter where she is drawn. I think she’s quick enough to lead any staying race.

“But, if we have 60mm of rain, I think they’ll be catching her.”

Race caller John Brasch noted Eye Catching recorded the eighth-fastest time recorded over 630m at Ipswich at just her 17^th start, when she won a Fifth Grade in mid-January in 36.96 seconds.  

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 16^th 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. 

The Gold Cup gets under way at 7:58pm local time and shapes as the perfect entrée to the Group 1 Gold Bullion (520m) at 9:02pm.

Recent Bold Trease winner Gypsy Wyong heads the Group 3 Gold Cup market at $3.80 ahead of Hank The Hustler at $4.40.

We The People has been $8 into $6 since markets opened, while the Jamie Hosking trained Micks Recall ($8 into $7) has been met with support ahead of her second run since mid-December.