Bentley Biscuit turns away from Bowman at Royal Ascot

Hugh Bowman, the Australian jockey who has made a big impact this season while based with Mick Channon, has missed out on the Royal Ascot ride on one of Austalia's best sprinters.

Bowman learnt on Tuesday that trainer Gai Waterhouse has decided Bentley Biscuit, who is entered in both the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting, will be ridden by fellow countryman Nash Rawiller.

Bowman, who has ridden 15 winners from 74 rides, said: "I am bitterly disappointed. Nash has won on him three times (at Group One level) but I was hoping to get the ride."

Rawiller is expected to arrive in Britain about 10 days before Royal Ascot to help in Bentley Biscuit's final preparations.

He rode Elvstroem at Royal Ascot at York in 2005 when third to Azamour in the Princess of Wales's Stakes.

Rawiller said: "I'm so excited. I knew I was in the running with Jamie Spencer and Hugh Bowman but I just wasn't sure which way Gai would go.

"I told Gai that my strike rate on Bentley was second to none with three rides producing three Group One wins but I also told her that I would stand by any decision she made."