Instead of celebrating a fifth WS Cox Plate win, Bowman was commentating on the race that has helped elevate him to the pantheon of the world riding ranks.

Bowman will be forever linked to the career of four-time Cox Plate winner Winx.

But for a moment on Saturday he must have been wondering what could of been after missing the winning ride in the 100th edition of the weight-for-age.

He had been locked for the mount on Sir Dragonet only to fall foul of stewards with a Caulfield Guineas-day suspension that ruled him out of the meeting.

Instead, it was left to Glen Boss to get the job done. A stirring win served up on a famous plate to go alongside his three Melbourne Cups.

Yet, ever the professional, Bowman accepted his fate as part of the racing game.

"That's the way it goes unfortunately for me, today," Bowman said as part of Seven Network's coverage.

"It's happened to Glen before, it's happened to me before and it will happen again."

Bowman made an early exit from the Sydney spring carnival on the back of a promising book of rides in Melbourne.

He went close to winning the Caulfield Cup on Anthony Van Dyck and will return from his ban to ride the Irish stayer in the Melbourne Cup.

Australian Associated Press