Hugh Bowman's Group One hopes for Saturday were dashed this week but the jockey still has strong chances on the Caulfield Cup undercard.

Bowman was booked to ride My Ambivalent in the Caulfield Cup but the overseas mare was ruled out of the $3 million race on Tuesday because of bruising to a hoof.

The Sydney hoop still has five rides at Saturday's meeting, including Tristarc Stakes favourite Catkins.

He also partners last year's Blue Diamond winner Miracles Of Life who kicks off a new phase of her career in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint in her first start since joining the stable of Peter and Paul Snowden.

Catkins was beaten a half length by Arabian Gold as an odds-on favourite in the Golden Pendant and Bowman is looking for the mare to bounce back.

Bowman won the Tristarc two years ago on Streama.

"She was fantastic first-up (winning the Sheraco Stakes) and I thought she was under par second-up," Bowman said of Catkins.

"The track was quite firm that day but whether there was more to it, I don't know.

"It would be lovely if we get a dead track for her. She just doesn't do as well when it's rock hard but certainly the conditions of the race are very much in her favour."

Catkins, the $2.80 favourite, carries 57.5kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions which is 1kg less than Group One winners Diamond Drille and May's Dream.

Bowman has ridden Miracles Of Life in two barrier trials and in trackwork leading into Saturday and said she was going well.

"She's drawn beautifully. She'll be competitive," he said.

Bowman rides Lady Macan in the Listed Ethereal Stakes, Light Up Manhattan in the $750,000 Caulfield Classic, and the Kris Lees-trained Slow Pace in the David Jones Cup.