Second major setback for Winx rider Bowman after 20-day ban for going too fast

Hugh Bowman, the rider who played a pivotal role in the success story of the legendary Winx, has been banned for 20 days by stewards in Australia, who determined he failed to give Farnan, the 7-5 favourite for a Group 2 at Rosehill on Saturday, the "full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place".

Bowman was aboard the colt for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the 6f De Bortoli Wines Run To The Rose and guided him to a fifth-placed finish after a prominent ride Racing NSW officials on Thursday deemed too fast.

They reasoned: "He failed to make sufficient endeavour to restrain Farnan between approximately the 900 metres and 500 metres in an attempt to set a slower and more sustainable pace, when it was both reasonable and permissible to do so, which ultimately resulted in Farnan continuing to set a very fast pace through that section of the race."

Bowman pleaded not guilty to the charge, but stewards – despite noting this was the first time he "had been found guilty of a similar offence in over 20 years of riding" – suspended him from September 27 to October 16, forcing the top rider on to the sidelines as a key big-race period in Australia begins.

The 40-year-old, who is set to appeal against the decision, had only recently returned from a six-week ban after his part in a race at Rosehill that led to fellow rider Andrew Adkins suffering serious injuries along with his mount Hot 'N' Hazy being fatally injured.

Successful 25 times in Group 1s on the record-breaking Winx – a haul that included four Cox Plates – the jockey had a spell riding in Britain in 2007 and is regarded as one of the stars of the saddle in Australia.

Farnan, who won Rosehill's Group 1 Golden Slipper under Bowman in March, is part-owned and was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbred, the beleaguered organisation that has been suspended by the BHA from having runners in Britain.

The group has been in the spotlight since November when founder Amer Abdulaziz Salman was alleged in a New York court to be a key money-launderer for the fake $4 billion cryptocurrency scam OneCoin before allegedly stealing €100 million from the fraudsters. Abdulaziz categorically denies the allegations

Read more international stories:

Dashing Willoughby bought for Melbourne Cup as Fellowes alters Prince plans

Alligator Blood disqualified from Magic Millions after positive post-race swab

European runners left with fewer options following shipping timetable change

Harsher whip penalties to be introduced in Victoria from August

For complete coverage of racing and bloodstock in Australia and New Zealand, download ANZ Bloodstock News every day