Randwick Guineas One For The Ages: Bowman

Leading jockey Hugh Bowman is convinced the Randwick Guineas will provide a result in keeping with a consensus that has this season's three-year-old colts rated among the best for almost two decades.

"You've probably got four or five there that are a bit better than the others and they are all top class, all Group One horses," Bowman said.

"It's not like you've got a bunch of Group Two horses fighting it out."

Bowman's Guineas mount Hallowed Crown led home Sweynesse, Kermadec, Shooting To Win and Scissor Kick in a blanket finish to the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.

Less than two lengths separated the first five horses and with the exception of Kermadec they will meet again over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.

The Hobartville finish evoked memories of the clashes between Octagonal, Saintly, Nothin' Leica Dane and Filante during the 1996 Sydney autumn carnival

As the winner of the Golden Rose, Hallowed Crown will be one of four horses successful at Group One level to line up in the Randwick Guineas.

His Golden Rose victory is one of five Hallowed Crown has posted in six starts and Bowman is happy for the colt's Guineas chances to be assessed on that record alone.

"He's hard to get a gauge on trackwork," Bowman said. "If he works on his own you don't get a guide on how he's going.

"His trial gave us very little but he's been to the races six times and won five of them. Hard to fault."

Bowman admitted Hallowed Crown's winning return had also caught him off guard.

"I didn't think I was going to win at any stage but then at the 100-metre mark he just found another gear I didn't know he had," he said.

Victorian-trained Firehouse Rock was added to the entry list for the $600,000 race, taking the nominations to 14.

Firehouse Rock is also an Australian Guineas entry.

Bowman will continue his association with Criterion when the dual Group One winner resumes in the Canterbury Stakes.

He won last year's Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby on Criterion and also rode the stayer to a minor placing in the Hong Kong Cup.