Sometimes the only motivation a sportsperson needs is to prove someone wrong.
Hugh Bowman's watershed moment came on a plane trip to Brisbane during the Queensland winter carnival when he was reading an article that rated him Sydney's third best rider behind Kerrin McEvoy and Brenton Avdulla.
At the time, winning a fourth Sydney jockeys' premiership was not at the forefront of Bowman's mind but that all changed once he had read the words of form analyst and Australian Bloodstock Director Luke Murrell.
"Hugh gets all the best rides normally and is a world class rider but on recent form and the last 12 months is still behind the top two boys," the article read.
With Avdulla comfortably clear in the premiership standings, Bowman, riding like a man possessed, set about overturning a deficit that was 11-1/2 wins at the beginning of June.
"I'll be honest that was pretty motivating," Bowman said.
"I thought well OK, let's see if I can get better."
By the fourth race at Rosehill on Saturday – the final meeting of the season, Bowman had sealed the title with an early double and finished the day 4-1/2 wins clear of Avdulla, who was chasing his first premiership.
"I understand Brenton would be disappointed but I think he'll be a better rider for it," he said.
"There's nowhere to hide at the top level and I found that out the hard way.
"I think Brenton will look back on it as his best season to date by a significant margin and I think he should be very proud."
Bowman's day in the saddle got off to a flyer when so You Think colt D'argento, trained by his biggest supplier of winners in Chris Waller, saluted in the Welcome Rydalmere CBC 2YO Handicap (1500m) as an odds-on favourite
But it was a little-known Armidale trainer by the name of Stirling Osland, who provided Bowman with the knockout punch when three-year-old filly Prada Miss defeated older rivals in the TAB Highway Plate (1500m).
While Bowman acknowledged Waller's contribution to his stellar season, he was also quick to recognise the support of his family, trainers such as Kris Lees, Peter and Paul Snowden, and James Cummings, as well as his manager Bryan Haskins.
"A big thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last 12 months. It's been another great season but most of all the support of my darling wife Christine and two young children," Bowman said.
"Obviously there is Chris but a lot of other trainers also who sit and wait for my services so they are to thank equally because they work in with me.
"Without them I couldn't be here. The same with my manager Bryan Haskins who does a fantastic job getting me on the right horses."
Bowman is probably entitled to kick up his heels for a couple of weeks now but instead, he will fly to Papua New Guinea on Sunday to walk the treacherous Kokoda Trail, a 96km hike that was traversed by soldiers during the second World War – all in the name of charity.
"I'm going to need lots of energy from what I understand but I'll just eat a normal meal tonight. The days of starving myself and then indulging are over," he said.
The walk will raise funds for the National Jockeys' Trust and Mark Hughes Brain Cancer Foundation. For more information on how you can donate to the cause visit www.walking2help.com.au.
