By Chris Roots
A suspension that Brenton Avdulla thought would cost him his shot at a first Sydney jockeys' premiership might become a refocusing point for his title aspirations.
Avdulla, who has led the premiership for most of the year, missed two metropolitan meetings last week as Hugh Bowman makes a late charge. He tried to get away from the pressure of the title battle last weekend without much success.
"I tried not to [watch], but it was hard because you look at what you would have been on and look at what he was on as well," Avdulla admitted.
"It probably cost me two or three winners, which is not ideal, but when you look at it, I actually thought it would cost me any chance at the title because Hughie has been going so well.
Title hunting: Brenton Avdulla will look to make the most of his handful of rides at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: bradleyphotos.com.au
"In the end I come back and it is game on.
"It wasn't ideal but I come back basically square with three meetings left and I have a nice enough books of rides for the next few meetings, starting with a couple of good chances on Saturday."
Bowman sits on 77 wins to Avdulla's 76½, which is a credit to Avdulla's range of contacts as he doesn't have the No.1 rides at any of the big stables in Sydney.
Avdulla's success has come from several yards with Godolphin being the major provider of his winners. He will ride Torpenhow for the blue army at Randwick on Saturday, but his five rides are for five different stables.
"That is what I have been doing all season and you just try to get the best rides you can and make sure you are available," Avdulla said. "I would say the break has helped me, it freshened me up a bit.
"It is a situation I have never been in before and I never thought I would be in at the beginning of the season, so it is different.
"I'm trying to do everything the same as I have all season but there is just a lot more attention on me now.
"I haven't had much luck in the past couple of weeks, so hopefully it is my turn in the last two or three meetings."
Avdulla starts his day on the Highway Handicap favourite Care To Think for Matt Dunn but it is advantage Bowman if the early betting is taken into account as he rides Spending To Win, Felines and Kings Of Leon, which each hold the top of betting.
But Avdulla has been able to get the best of out his mounts this year and he is confident a horse such as Argent D'or, which he has ridden at both his runs this campaign, can step up.
"He has run well at both his starts and the step to 1200 metres will suit," Avdulla said. "He is meeting similar horses to those he has been racing and if he can get some luck in running he could turn around that couple of lengths he needs to.
"He has a good turn of foot and if he gets the right run he will show that."
Avdulla picked up the ride on Jacquinot Bay, which comes up from Victoria for the Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig yard. He rates him as an "old marvel, which at his best would be hard to beat in a race like this".
Torpenhow gave him his last city win before suspension and goes from midweek grade to Saturday.
"He surprised us the other day when we rode him quiet with a bit of cover and if he can bring that sort of form he would be right in this race," Avdulla said.
"It is one of those days where I probably need things to go right, but I can make a case for all of them, including Kingsguard in the last, which has drawn poorly but is a last-start winner."
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