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By Brad Gray

The latest twist in the jockeying for Chautauqua’s booking over the spring carnival has seen Hugh Bowman’s hat thrown into the ring.

“All I can say is I hope so,” Bowman said when quizzed on the possibility of legging aboard the champion sprinter.

“He is a great horse no doubt about it and if it all worked out it’d be lovely.”

Chautauqua’s part owner Rupert Legh yesterday told RSN that Dwayne Dunn, Brenton Avdulla, Kerrin McEvoy and Bowman were all in the mix with the seven-year-old’s regular Sydney rider Tommy Berry about to embark on a stint in Hong Kong.

However, the grey's connections want the jockey to be able to commit to Chautauqua’s entire campaign which will begin in the $200,000 Group Two The Shorts (1100m) on September 16 before he tackles the Group Two $500,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later as a final tune up for The Everest on October 14.

The spring path of Winx will of course be a factor when assessing Bowman as an option.

On the subject of Winx, the mighty mare won’t be the only odds on pop Bowman will be steering at Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting with Sayed also a very warm $1.60 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds in the Randwick Mayor’s Cup (2400m) with Sayed’s dominant last start victory prompting talk of The Metropolitan.

“He showed a bit early then didn’t get it done but he has started to put it together now so he is a hard horse to get a guide on but he is certainly in the right hands with Chris (Waller),” Bowman said.

“He’d have to race well if he is going to be a Metropolitan horse. Win, lose or draw though if he runs well with 61kg he is in business.”

Bowman will also be seen in the royal blue on Saturday riding Spectroscope, in the Show Country Quality, as well as Mogador for Godolphin’s new head trainer James Cummings.

“I’ve had a good association with James previously and we get on well together,” Bowman said.

“I’ve never sat on Spectroscope but he looks very well placed and is clearly a nice horse.”

Check out the fields, form and replays Royal Randwick on Saturday