Punters couldn't get enough of the odds-on favourite Sayed but they were left lamenting when he was swamped late in the $160,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on Friday.
Sayed went into the race with three wins and two second from his previous five starts and that combined with a 7kg weight drop saw punters back the imported stayer from $1.55 into $1.35 when the starter sent the field on their way.
But it was the Joe Pride's veteran, nine-year-old Destiny's Kiss that proved too strong for the seven-year-old import that was also edged out of second place in the last stride by the Paul Perry-trained The Getaway.
Destiny's Kiss settled back in the field until Bowman started to pinch runs from the 1000m and at the home turn he found himself on the back of Sayed, which was travelling outside the leader Singing.
Bowman got Destiny's Kiss ($8.50) out into the clear inside the 200m and stride by stride his mount reeled in Sayed to score by a short-neck over The Getaway ($41) which grabbed second with a short half head back to the punters elect in third.
"He's got more experience that I have," Bowman told Sky Racing.
"He was going well enough and it was just a matter of having luck in running and he did, it panned out really well for me.
"He's been a great horse for so long and he thoroughly deserved it."
Destiny's Kiss was having his 71st start on Friday and chalked up his 16th win to take his earnings beyond $1.1m.
"It's a lot of wins for a little horse like him," Pride said.
"He's one of the smallest horses in the stable but full of courage and very proud of him."
The Wyong Gold Cup win was the seventh black-type victory for Destiny's Kiss.
