Nash Rawiller loves the view again from the top as champion jockey reasserts authority in Sydney ranks
Re-establishing himself in the sydney jockeys’ room was a big ask but this rider thrives on a challenge, writes Ray Thomas. Plus how a bit of tough love made one racehorse the man for our times.
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Nash Rawiller is enjoying the view. He’s on top of the Sydney jockeys’ premiership and wants to stay there.
As the 2019-20 season approaches the halfway point, Rawiller’s double at the Canterbury midweek meeting took him to 45 city wins, a half-win in front of titleholder James McDonald.
Tommy Berry (41), Tim Clark (38), Brenton Avdulla (32), Kerrin McEvoy (25) and Hugh Bowman (22) are not out of premiership contention, either, which sets up the most competitive title contest in years.
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Rawiller conceded he’d set himself to win the premiership in his comeback season.
“The premiership has been the goal, absolutely,’’ Rawiller said.
“I wanted to shoot for the stars and see what happens.’’
Rawiller’s manager, Liam Prior, said the pair sat down during winter last year to plan the jockey’s title assault.
“The main goal we set was for Nash to get back and establish himself in Sydney racing by riding consistently and riding winners,’’ Prior said. “And the best way to achieve that was to try to win the premiership.
“So, it became the obvious goal for Nash. At the start of the season, he didn’t have the backing of any major stable but we thought, ‘let’s have a crack at it’. He has been able to maintain his momentum month-by-month.
“He’s stayed fit and out of the stewards’ room, which always helps.
“He gets a lot of rides from Bjorn Baker, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and John Thompson. But he is also getting good support right across the board — including opportunities from Chris Waller and Godolphin.
“It’s put Nash into a good position to give himself a real chance at winning the premiership this season.’’
The TAB has framed a betting market on the premiership for 2019-20 with McDonald favourite at $1.70. But Rawiller has firmed to second favouritism at $2.20 over Berry at $8 and Clark at $15.
“It didn’t take long once Nash was back in the saddle to remind us of his quality,’’ TAB’s Gerard Middleton said.
“He went from $11 in mid-July to $2.30 just two months later to win a fourth Sydney jockeys’ premiership. He’s in to $2.20 now.
“It’s shaping as a race similar to the 2013-14 season when McDonald pipped Rawiller by only two wins.’’
There are some striking similarities with Rawiller’s return to riding this season and McDonald’s achievement last season. McDonald was riding in his first full season back in the saddle after serving an 18-month disqualification when he reclaimed the premiership, becoming the first jockey to ride more than 100 winners in a season since Darren Beadman in 2006-07.
OPPORTUNITY BECKONS
Rawiller is also on the comeback trail, having had just completed a 15-month ban when he returned to riding last winter. He would have noted McDonald’s extraordinary results last year and steeled himself to try to win the title in his first season back.
With McDonald riding in New Zealand on Saturday at the Karaka Millions, Rawiller has the opportunity to increase his premiership lead with seven rides at Randwick.
Rawiller rides the Joe Pride-trained Passage Of Time in the Listed $150,000 Carrington Stakes (1400m) and stablemate Superium in the Edney Ryan Group Handicap (1400m).
He also partners Baker’s speedy mare Missybeel in the City Tatts Bushfire Appeal Handicap, the Garry Neale-trained Oriental Runner in the Mark Alati Bookmakers Handicap (1100m) and Mushaireb from the Richard and Michael Freedman stable in the PFD Food Services Handicap (2000m).
The TAB Highway (1100m) has been split into two divisions with Rawiller on Eurosay from the Todd Smart stable, and Conspirator, trained by Clint Lundholm.
As Prior said, Rawiller is getting support from a wide range of trainers and owners which has helped vault him to the top of the premiership table.
Rawiller was three times Sydney champion jockey before accepting a riding contract in Hong Kong in 2014.
He rode successfully there for four years until he was embroiled in a stewards’ investigation and found guilty of accepting gifts or money in exchange for tips. The jockey was subsequently banned from riding for 15 months.
THE COMEBACK
Rawiller was initially preparing to return to riding in Melbourne, fearing the deep pool of riding talent in Sydney racing would make it difficult to consistently snare competitive rides.
“I was warned against trying to come back to Sydney because the riding ranks are so strong here,’’ he said.
“I was told trying to kick off here was going to be difficult.’’
But rather than shy away from the challenge, it emboldened him.
“I really had to back myself,’’ Rawiller said. “There are so many good jockeys in Sydney racing but you want to be competing against the best.’’
Rawiller also sensed Sydney had become the heart of Australian racing.
“Sydney racing is getting all the best horses, biggest owners, the racing is so well managed by Racing NSW and (chief executive) Peter V’landys — it has a different feel about it since I was last here,’’ Rawiller said.
“Even a Canterbury meeting on a Friday night, you can tell the difference straight away. The promotions are working and concentrating on making it more fun to go to the races.’’
Rawiller’s comeback to Sydney racing and lofty position in the premiership standings is all the more remarkable given he only returned to race riding in late July last year.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
“Am I surprised to be in this position?” Rawiller said, answering a question with a question.
“I wanted to start off well so I got myself very fit and was ready to go from the start of the season. But I can only go by the opportunities I’m given and, fortunately, I’ve had the support from owners and trainers.’’
Rawiller’s return to Sydney racing this season also coincided with his son, Campbell, making his riding debut as an apprentice jockey.
Campbell, 18, is indentured to Mornington trainer Logan McGill and had his first rides in September. He’s already ridden 22 winners. Although based in Victoria, Campbell regularly seeks his father’s expert advice.
“I talk to Dad after every raceday to discuss my rides,’’ Campbell said. He’s not always on my back but, if he sees something he feels I could do better, he will point that out. He’s a rock to me.’’
The teenage young gun is bursting with pride when asked about his father’s successful return to the saddle.
“The way Dad has bounced back after having more than a year out has been inspirational,’’ Campbell said. “He’s in a great frame of mind, he backs himself — he’s a superstar in my eyes.’’
FAMILY BACKING
Rawiller doesn’t hide his admiration for his son, either, particularly the way the teenager has handled the media spotlight and weight of expectation since deciding to follow in his famous father’s footsteps.
“I’m very proud of how Campbell is going,’’ Rawiller said. “He is loving it, which is so important. He is really starting to settle into his riding, he’s learning and improving all the time.’’
As Rawiller prepares for the second half of his comeback season, the champion jockey is looking forward to riding at the Sydney autumn carnival and the possibility of claiming a fourth premiership.
“I’ve just had a suspension and, although there is never a good time to get suspended, I was able to take a week to 10 days off after Magic Millions so I feel nice and refreshed now,’’ Rawiller said. “I’m ready to get stuck into the autumn and give the premiership my best shot.’’
MAN FOR OUR TIMES
Man Of Peace has been leading the pack on raceday but he knows his place in the stable pecking order.
Trainer Matthew Dale revealed Man Of Peace had to endure a harrowing time when twice evacuated during South Coast bushfire crisis this month.
But it wasn’t the fires that caused the most problems for Man Of Peace — it was his stablemates!
In the days leading up to the catastrophic fire conditions on January 4, Dale had to evacuate his 20-strong team of horses from stables at Moruya to a paddock away from the fire front.
“They were there for two days before we had a window of opportunity to get them out and move them to safety at our Canberra stables,’’ Dale said.
“Man Of Peace was one of those horses at Moruya and when we got him back to Canberra, we noticed he had all these bite marks from being in the paddock with the other horses.
“He was put in his place a bit in that herd mentality and was much quieter at Canberra trackwork and around the stables.
“I had him entered for Randwick that week (January 11) and it was touch and go whether to run him.
“But he was eating and working well so we rolled the dice and took him to Randwick where he got the job done. It was a very pleasing result considering what he had been through.’’
Man Of Peace has had a much smoother preparation leading into the Coopers Hotel Newtown Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday which coincidentally has been branded “Racing for the Bushfire Appeal”.
“He might have had a disrupted lead-up to his previous race but he hasn’t missed a beat going into (Saturday),’’ Dale said.
“We had him in two races and it was a tricky decision but I felt it was the right time to test him at 1600m as he is very fit and has the lightweight.’’
Emerging apprentice Cejay Graham can utilise her full 3kg claim, reducing Man Of Peace’s handicap to a featherweight of 49kg on Saturday.
Man Of Peace, who is chasing a hat-trick of wins, is at $7 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting behind boom import Mugatoo at $3.10.
Velvet Aeroplane, a stablemate of Man Of Peace and an entry for the first division of the TAB Highway (1100m), has also had her preparation impacted by the raging bushfires.
Dale said Velvet Aeroplane was scheduled to resume racing at Goulburn when the meeting was called off due to the thick smoke haze.
She was then set to make her return at Nowra but when that track came up as a heavy 9, Dale was reluctant to run his mare first-up in such testing conditions.
“Even though she has missed a couple of runs I’m happy with the mare, she is doing everything right at home, and when they split the Highway I felt it was definitely worth having a crack at the race,’’ Dale said.
Dale will saddle up speedy mare Sei Stella in the Challenge Heat (955m) at Moonee Valley tonight.
Sei Stella is a half-sister to Fab Fevola who was a Moonee Valley short course specialist and once sped around the 955m in a flying 54.87sec.
“She has had a long time off but is coming up quite well,’’ Dale said of Sei Stella.
“We have ticked all the boxes at home, she looks well after two quiet jumpouts, and everything seems to be in order so now we want to see her do it under raceday pressure.’’
Meanwhile, Racing NSW and Australian Turf Club want to raise at least $100,000 with every cent pledged to those affected by the NSW bushfires at the Randwick meeting on Saturday.
The fund-raising raceday includes:
• ATC will offer free entry to all RFS and other volunteers helping with the bushfires.
• Race-naming rights will be sold off with all funds raised supporting the cause.
• Signed memorabilia from that day such as jockey’s silks and saddle cloths with be auctioned off raising further funds.
• Racing NSW and ATC will donate $10,000 each to support those affected by the fires.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said that these initiatives come on top of the $500,000 emergency funding relief package already announced to assist owners, trainers, jockeys, track-riders, stablehands and other participants affected by the bushfires on the NSW South Coast.
There is also additional financial support to ensure that all horses are being fed and cared for.
“Our priority first and foremost has been to look after our industry participants, but we are also determined to support the overall bushfire relief cause in this time of crisis,’’ Mr V’landys said.
“The people in the front line, whether local residents or the many service people and volunteers involved, need our support.’’ ATC chief executive Jamie Barkley said the club wanted to acknowledge the work of volunteers fighting the bushfires.
“These bushfires are devastating and have touched the lives of everyone in some way,’’ Mr Barkley said.
“We pay tribute to the volunteers on the front line and behind the scenes that are working selflessly to protect lives, property and helping those most in need.’’
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Originally published as Nash Rawiller loves the view again from the top as champion jockey reasserts authority in Sydney ranks
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