Bowerman (Chris Hayes up) leads runner-up Firstman© Photo Healy Racing
"Form is temporary and class is permanent” was trainer Ado McGuinness' summation of Bowerman today, as his nine year old returned to form with an 11th win in Dundalk's Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap.
A Group 3 winner at today's venue in 2020, Bowerman's rating had fallen from 92 to 73 following 12 unsuccessful runs in as many recent months and today registered a first success over 1m4f, scoring under a patient Chris Hayes ride.
McGuinness said “we were contemplating whether to retire him before Christmas and we'll probably keep him going now and try him on the grass and he might come up here again.
“He has been some servant to me. Myself and Stephen (Thorne, assistant) bought him off the lads (Total Recall Racing Club) because we put them into a fresher horse and I didn't want a horse like him going into claimers.
“He deserves a good life when he is finished and will retired probably this year at some stage.”
He added “Colin (Keane) rode him the last day and said to step him up to 1m4f. This came up quick but we just said we'd take a chance and he has a bit of fire left in his belly.
“He was wrong here a few runs ago and we couldn't find out what was wrong with him but definitely the last two runs he was very sweet and is well down in his rating.
"Form is temporary and class is permanent. He is a gorgeous horse to have, he's so quiet and lovely."
Quotes from Michael Graham
