Jockey Nash Rawiller is making a late season surge to capture the Sydney jockeys premiership title
The race for the Sydney jockeys premiership is heating up with Nash Rawiller making a late surge.
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THE Sydney jockeys premiership has been thrown wide open with defending champion James McDonald extending his absence from the saddle for at least another week.
McDonald has been recovering from the onset of gallstones and although his condition won’t require surgery, doctors have ordered the jockey to rest.
He hasn’t ridden since falling ill at Warwick Farm on June 26 and is unlikely to return to the saddle before the Kensington meeting on July 17 at the earliest.
With long-time premiership leader McDonald sidelined, Nash Rawiller is making a late season surge to try and regain the title he last won a decade ago.
Star apprentice Zac Lloyd might have been the headline act at Randwick last Saturday with his four-timer on Tamerlane (Listed Winter Stakes), Shezanalister, Clear Thinking and Brave One, but Rawiller’s brace with Contemporary and Rhapsody Chic in the final two races has kept his premiership hopes alive.
McDonald still leads on 83 wins but nearest rival Rawiller is closing in with 77 wins and there are only seven metropolitan meetings remaining for the 2023-24 season.
“If I was at home sipping on a Pina colada I wouldn’t be too worried if I was James – I’d be having another one!’’ Rawiller said after winning on Rhapsody Chic.
“But it (premiership) gives me something to focus on over the next few weeks.
“I hope James gets an opportunity to come back the last bit (of the season) and it will be a good little fight to the finish.’’
Both jockeys are chasing a significant slice of Sydney racing history in their premiership duel this month.
McDonald has won the last five Sydney jockeys premierships and if he can retain the title, he will be only the third person to win six successive titles.
Hall of Fame jockey Ron Quinton won the Sydney premiership from 1978-79 to 1983-84 and the legendary George Moore won a record eight successive premierships from 1961-62 to 1968-69.
But if Rawiller does claim the title later this month, it will be 11 years since he last won the premiership in 2012-13 – the longest period ever between Sydney jockeys premiership wins.
Hall of Fame jockey Jack Thompson currently holds that record after he won his fifth (and final) Sydney title in 1955-56, eight years after his previous premiership success in 1947-48.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Godolphin sprinter Contemporary attracted plenty of support from TAB punters to start $2.70 favourite on TAB Fixed Odds and $2.80 on the tote for the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap.
Contemporary, ridden by Nash Rawiller, duly landed the betting plunge including one monster bet of $8000 at $2.70.
But just 35 minutes earlier, the Godolphin stable engineered a boilover result when $21 outsider Tamerlane returned to top form by edging out heavily backed favourite Iknowastar in the Winter Stakes.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Clear Thinking (race 4) was simply outstanding, scoring her third win from as many starts. She’s bred to be special by England’s super sire Dubawi out of former brilliant sprinter Sweet Idea, winner of the Group 1 The Galaxy, and needed to be to overcome an interrupted run before finishing fast for a sensational win. She will now be aimed at The Kosciuszko on Everest Day in spring.
Brave One (race 1) made a very impressive debut in the juvenile opener. He settled outside of leader and favourite Mayfair then got the better of that horse before drawing clear to win by nearly a length. The Team Hawkes-trained Brave One is in the right stable to realise his potential.
Invader Zim (race 2) was having his first start since February and looked set to make a winning comeback when he ranged alongside Patchouli Dream then edging to the front only to be beaten by a bob of the heads. Invader Zim is lightly-raced but looks an improving type and can be placed to advantage over winter.
Strathtay (race 5) is an emerging stayer who scored his second successive win since crossing the Tasman to join the Chris Waller stable earlier this year. Strathtay finished powerfully to reel in Loco and win well. The run of the minor placegetter, Age Of Sail, was also very good.
Rhapsody Chic (race 10) is making winning a habit, scoring his third on the bounce when he finished strongly to run down a game Pure Alpha. Rhapsody Chic, who has won four of his eight career starts, earned the praise of champion jockey Nash Rawiller with his impressive Sydney debut.
TURF TALK
“I spoke to my Mum this morning as I normally do coming to the races and she said she would be happy with one (winner) but I said I want more. I think she will be happy with four winners,” said star apprentice Zac Lloyd after riding four winners.
“Not many horses could have won from where she was. This was only her third start, she had to manoeuvre her way through a tight run then her last 200m was just fantastic,’’ Lloyd again after winning on Clear Thinking.
“At the 100m I thought we were doing it pretty tough but then she got out and to finish off like she did was exciting – to win like that was excellent,’’ said Paul Messara, trainer of Clear Thinking.
“Molly’s a champion. She just told me she’s lost her 3kg claim and I told her you can ride any of mine with no claim!’’ said trainer Gary Nickson after apprentice Molly Bourke won on his sprinter, One Destiny.
“He travelled ‘good’ our colt and but he’s still green as, he has a lot of upside and is going to be very good. He’s a quality horse, this bloke,’’ said trainer Michael Hawkes after Brave One’s impressive debut win.
CRUNCH TIME
Clear Thinking (race 4) charged home her final 600m in 34.99s to win the TAB Highway. This sectional was impressive enough but the manner in which she closed off her race was quite exceptional. She ripped home in 11.96s for the final 200m to run down Tanglewood. Clear Thinking was the only horse to break 12s for the final 200m split all day.
Shezanalister (race 7) was resuming from a spell and shouldered 61kg to a tough win. She sprinted her 600m closing sectional in 34.87s and 12.27s for the final 200m. She won the race with a brilliant split of 11.21s between the 400m and 200m.
Contemporary (race 9) was having his first run since winning at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting two months ago and impressed with a fast-finishing win. Jockey Nash Rawiller took the short way home on Contemporary who responded by sprinting his final 600m in 35.41s and the closing 200m sectional in 12.44s.
Rhapsody Chic (race 10) ran his final 600m in 35.71s to score an impressive win. He sprinted home in a time that was considerably faster than his rivals including a last 200m split in 12.28s.
STEWARDS SAY
Clear Thinking (race 4) slipped behind as the barriers opened and lost ground. She was then held up for clear running from the 400m until approaching the 200m. When improving into a tight run between Tai Lung and Extra Flash approaching the 150m she made contact with Extra Flash.
Age Of Sail (race 5) was directed to near the outside rail in the straight by jockey Nash Rawiller and he ran on well for third to Strathtay. Stewards questioned Rawiller about his tactics with the jockey revealed he had walked the track prior to the meeting and felt the ground towards the outside was, in his view, superior to the going near the middle of the track. Rawiller said Age Of Sail closed off well when fully tested from the 200m.
Tristate (race 6) was racing in a forward position near the 600m when he lost his action. Apprentice Zac Lloyd told stewards he had concerns that there may be something amiss with his mount and eased the gelding down from the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities but he must barrier trial before racing again.
Flying Crazy (race 8) bounded on jumping then was not comfortable in the heavy going throughout the early and middle stages and consequently became detached from the field mid-race despite being ridden along. When properly balanced in the straight, Flying Crazy ran home well.
Pacific Ruby (race 8) was slow to begin. Jockey Tyler Schiller reported that after beginning very awkwardly Pacific Ruby was inclined to lay in for the majority of the race. He said that when the mare did not respond to his riding in the early part of the home straight and he had concerns Pacific Ruby may have injured itself at the start and he eased her down over the final 200m. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday: Muswellbrook
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Hawkesbury
Friday: Moruya, Scone
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle
Sunday: Grafton, Narrandera
Originally published as Jockey Nash Rawiller is making a late season surge to capture the Sydney jockeys premiership title
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