Top jockey Hugh Bowman was lucky to walk away from a race fall at Canterbury on Wednesday after his mount resented being hit with the whip.

Californian Man was running second in the Cellarbrations Plate when he veered out sharply across the face of the field at the 200m.

The sudden shift caught Bowman off guard and the jockey was tossed from the saddle and narrowly missed being struck by the horses behind him.

Bowman walked away from the incident unscathed and he will be fit to partner favourite Winx in the Queensland Oaks on Saturday.