Lowry produced the Lance Robinson-trained galloper for his winning run in the straight after giving the horse a perfect trip behind eaders Spider and Son Of Maher.
The apprentice was suspended for six riding days for shifting ground on Meru in race 8 at Wingatui on Thursday. But winning his ninth group or listed race was some consolation for not being able to ride Tommy Tucker in the White Robe Lodge Weight-For Age on Champions Day this Saturday, Lowry said.
"I thought if I could win that race it would cushion the blow a wee bit.‘‘That is the way the game works. It’s not like I am the only one missing out. You see those jockeys up north like Jason Waddell missing out on million-dollar days. It is just the nature of the beast, really."
Lowry could not have wished for a better run in the Timaru Stakes, he said.
"I didn’t have a plan in mind but I did not think it would be that easy. To have the speed on and sitting right behind the one to beat — you couldn’t really ask for a better position."
A brave Son Of Maher fought on well to run second and suggest he is on track for his bid in the White Robe Lodge.
His jockey, Samantha Wynne, will also miss Champions Day through suspension. That may force Yaldhurst trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman to seek a new rider
as it is understood Chris Johnson, who has ridden Son Of Maher in the past, will ride Princess Brook in the event.
Wynne had ridden Boots ‘N’ All in his previous three starts but left the door open for Lowry to ride the horse at Riccarton.
"I was at the Ashburton trials and when I heard Sam was committed to Son Of Maher I could not get on the phone quick enough," Lowry said.
"He is a lovely horse."
Robinson had been one of his biggest supporters outside of the Brian and Shane Anderton stable, he said. Lowry also won race 10, a rating 65 over 1800m, on the Andrew Carston-trained Shocktillyoudrop.
The mare was likely to head to the Dunedin Gold Cup on Saturday. The Pitmans’ stable rider, Parvesh Shaikh, signed off his apprenticeship with two wins.
The now fully-fledged rider scored with Miroslava in the 2yr-olds’ dash (race 2) and Elfee in race 4, a rating 75 (1600m).
