NewsBite

Ray Thomas Blackbook: Nash Rawiller’s suspension puts James McDonald in box seat for Sydney jockeys title

James McDonald now has the advantage in his Sydney title battle with Nash Rawiller ahead of his return to the saddle this week.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
July 14, 2024 - 4:42PM
James McDonald is set to resume his bid for a sixth Sydney jockey title when he returns to riding on Wednesday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images
James McDonald is set to resume his bid for a sixth Sydney jockey title when he returns to riding on Wednesday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

James McDonald wasn’t even riding but he’s taken a vice-like grip on a historic sixth consecutive Sydney jockeys premiership despite rival Nash Rawiller’s three-timer at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Rawiller’s treble on Cranky Harry, Ha Ha Ha and South Of India moved him to within three wins of McDonald in the premiership before his day was soured with a suspension for excessive whip use.

Although Rawiller’s six-day ban starts after Rosehill next Saturday and means he only misses one metropolitan meeting – Canterbury on July 24 – it is now advantage McDonald in the title duel.

McDonald is due to return to the saddle at Kensington on Wednesday after missing nearly three weeks due to a stomach complaint.

The premiership leader for most of the season, McDonald will be keen to add to his tally of 83 wins city wins at Kensington.

If McDonald can win a sixth successive Sydney premiership, he will be only the third rider to achieve the feat.

Hall of Fame jockey Ron Quinton won six Sydney premierships in a row from 1978-79 to 1983-84 and the legendary George Moore won a record eight successive premierships from 1961-62 to 1968-69.

McDonald’s return to riding this week coincides with the first appearance of some of Sydney’s racing’s best racehorses at the barrier trials ahead of the spring carnival.

Godolphin big guns Zardozi, Pericles and Tom Kitten are competing in separate 800m heats at the Warwick Farm trials session on Monday.

The James Cummings-trained Zardozi won the VRC Oaks last spring and ran a close second in the ATC Australian Oaks earlier this year. She is at $26 in early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Caulfield Cup and $34 for the Melbourne Cup.

Pericles, winner of the Group 3 Tramway Stakes and runner-up in the Golden Eagle, Doncaster Mile and Futurity Stakes, is on third line of betting for the Epsom Handicap.

Tom Kitten won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes last spring and is at $26 for The Metropolitan.

McDonald aboard Zardozi in their VRC Oaks victory last spring. Picture: Michael Klein
McDonald aboard Zardozi in their VRC Oaks victory last spring. Picture: Michael Klein

Cummings has more immediate big-race ambitions with talented sprinter Perielle a dominant favourite at $2.10 in early betting for the Listed $200,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Aaron Bullock’s broken left collarbone sustained in a fall at Newcastle on Saturday could cost him the chance of retaining the NSW jockeys premiership.

Bullock is due to have surgery on the injury later this week and almost certainly won’t ride again this season.

Ashley Morgan (130.5 wins) now has a very real opportunity to win the NSW premiership as he trails Bullock by only 6.5 wins with the season due to end on July 31.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Bear On The Loose (race 9) was the best-backed runner on the Randwick card with TAB holding 65 per cent of its hold on the $1.95 favourite. But Bear On The Loose endured a wide run before finishing fourth Aramco. The winner held 15 per cent of all bets on the race and firmed from $5 into $4.20 after bets of $3000 and $2000 at $4.20.

Ha Ha Ha (race 7) drifted from $4.80 out to $6 but still held around 17 per cent of all TAB outlays before storming down the outside to score impressively. Some of the bigger bets on Ha Ha Ha included $5000 at $6, $5000 at $5 plus multiple bets of $2000 at $5.

War Eternal (race 8) was backed from $5.50 midweek to $2.60 and landed the plunge with bets of $4000, $3000 and $2000 at $2.90.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

In Flight (race 2) just keeps winning. She scored her fourth win this preparation with arguably her best effort yet when she shouldered 60kg to a fast-finishing win. Trainer Joe Pride is giving careful consideration to backing up with the filly at Rosehill next Saturday.

Cranky Harry (race 3) made winning look ridiculously easy. He made light of his 59kg impost and treated his Highway rivals with absolute disdain. His winning margin of just over three lengths could have been double if jockey Nash Rawiller had tested the sprinter at any stage. Cranky Harry handles wet tracks and can race his way through the grades this winter.

Hellavadancer (race 6) was unlucky not to beat Defining. Hellavadancer appeared to have the run of the race third on the fence to the turn but then had trouble getting a run between tiring leader Cross The Rubicon and African Daisy. When finally clear, Hellavadancer ran on strongly for second. Stick with her next start.

Ha Ha Ha (race 7) was arguably the most impressive – and spectacular – winner at the Randwick meeting. She was ridden conservatively early, went very wide on the turn and unleashed a brilliant finishing sprint to race away from her rivals. The promising imported mare won easily and will get further, too.

Aramco (race 9) won almost in spite of himself. He got to the front early in the straight but then raced waywardly, only regaining focus when Super Strike challenged inside the final 100m. Aramco balanced up and drew clear again on the line. The Chris Waller-trained Aramco was only second-up and there is more improvement to come.

TURF TALK

“This could end up being a great battle for the premiership between James and I. If I am suspended, then it is 12 months work out the window,’’ said jockey Nash Rawiller.

“Nash is riding with so much confidence. He has a sniff of the premiership and that was Nash at his best,’’ said Adrian Bott, trainer of Ha Ha Ha.

“He’s an exciting horse. He has good overseas form and was really well found by the Australian Bloodstock team. I’m sure he is only going to get better once we stretch him out in trip,’’ said Annabel Neasham, trainer of Don Diego De Vega.

“She is going super and I just thought she looked too good for these horses. She is a proper Saturday horse and is a filly going places. It was a very good win,’’ said Joe Pride, trainer of In Flight.

“Wanaruah has a great mindset, he’s a fabulous colt. He looks like a colt that will continue to furnish as he goes into his three-year-old season. There is a lot more upside with this horse and we think he will be a good miler,’’ said Bott.

CRUNCH TIME

In Flight (race 2) made light of her hefty 60kg impost and toyed with her rivals. The in-form filly was very impressive closing out her final 600m in 34.87sec, one of the fastest splits of the meeting.

Cranky Harry (race 3) ran the best final 200m sectional of any of the 10 winners at the Randwick meeting – stopping the clock at 12.05sec despite jockey Nash Rawiller keeping a tight hold on the brilliant Highway winner.

War Eternal (race 8) has been “savaging’’ the line of late and he did so again at Randwick, sprinting his final 600m in 36.07sec with a closing 200m sectional of 12.08sec to score a deserved win.

South Of India (race 10) broke 60sec for the 1000m which was a good gallop in the soft 7 track conditions. Jockey Nash Rawiller’s decision to go to the outside rail in the straight looking for better going was vindicated when South Of India ran the fastest closing sectionals of the race – 11.42sec between the 400m and 200m and 12.86sec from the 200m to the finish.

Wanaruah (race 1) did get away with a cheap 200m sectional from the 800m but he still “ripped” home his final 600m in 35.91sec. The next fastest 600m was only 36.39sec which only accentuates Wanaruah’s absolute dominance.

STEWARDS SAY

Hellavadancer (race 6) tried to take a run inside leader Cross The Rubicon at the top of the straight but there was insufficient room. Hellavadancer was then held up for a run between Cross The Rubicon and African Dancer until inside the 200m.

Ha Ha Ha (race 7) jumped cleanly but with a number of runners inside her being ridden for speed, jockey Nash Rawiller told stewards he elected to go back rather than risk the mare being trapped wide without cover. Co-trainer Adrian Bott confirmed to stewards there were no instructions issued for the mare to be ridden back in the field.

Testator Silens (race 8) was to be ridden in an on-pace position but jockey Nash Rawiller told stewards the horse began awkwardly, lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently missed the start. Rawiller felt he had little choice other than to ride the horse from back in the field. Testator Silens, who appeared to resent the blinkers, was held up for clear running from the 400m until approaching the 200m.

Bear On The Loose (race 9) was trapped wide early. Jockey Nash Rawiller told stewards he allowed the horse to roll forward in the early stages from a wide barrier but when a number of horses also showed good early speed to his inside this resulted in the early tempo being strong. Rawiller elected to steady but Bear On The Loose was left racing wide and without cover from near the 1100m.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday: Dubbo, Quirindi

Tuesday: Newcastle

Wednesday: Kensington, Grafton

Thursday: Grafton, Kembla Grange

Friday: Queanbeyan, Tamworth

Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Wyong

Sunday: Hawkesbury, Grafton

Originally published as Ray Thomas Blackbook: Nash Rawiller’s suspension puts James McDonald in box seat for Sydney jockeys title

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/ray-thomas-blackbook-nash-rawillers-suspension-puts-james-mcdonald-in-box-seat-for-sydney-jockeys-title/news-story/0b22bd433518b55dd1cc6881df9ef5a8