Sure,next Saturday’s program is the last chance to get the Christmas turkey,but a stronger meeting here looks a better bet.
Rosehill racecourse will be relocated to make way for tens of thousands of new homes and an additional Metro West station.
With James McDonald wowing Hong Kong,Rawiller is best placed to hold the sleigh reins.
Last Friday night Rawiller pushed,cajoled and gyrated his way to a winning treble at Canterbury,and he backed that up with another the next day at Randwick,thus emphasising that his horseback cuddle is more domination than caress.
However,it was a loss on Step Aside at Randwick that brought out the grumpy Santa in Rawiller. Young gun Zac Lloyd,handing Run With The Tide,created a problem at the 500 metres that cost Rawiller his winning chance and eventually cost Lloyd second place to Step Aside on protest.
Rawiller didn’t cop it sweet and gave the apprentice a gobful of what appeared to be anything but the Yuletide spirit.
Even in the heat of last Saturday,Rawiller had to declare a half-kilo overweight on 57.5 kg,but all concerned were only too happy to have him in the saddle showing no signs of dehydration.
Nash Rawiller gets Zoe’s Promise home as part of his treble at Randwick last Saturday.Getty
Rawiller reunites at Randwick with Toesonthenose,which he has won his last two aboard,and Emperor,which he will attempt to make it back-back Highways on.
Emperor is trained by Matt Dunn at Murwillumbah. Dunn rates strongly on Highways. No doubt Rawiller has made a contribution,but a wide gate today presents as a hurdle for the navigator. Emperor has not raced for six weeks and wasn’t flash in a recent Ballina barrier trial – without Rawiller.
Rawiller adds to the credentials of So Cool So Good for Sara Ryan,who currently could tune a broomstick to score. With So Good So Cool,Rawiller has more to work with,and he has another attractive booking,Kirwan’s Lane,which should have finished closer in the Ingham last Saturday for another partner but hasn’t made a habit of winning over the last 12 months.
Leading trainer Chris Waller has employed the Rawiller method for Robusto,which will sport blinkers for the first time,and Gracilistyla,which will meet worthwhile opposition from the John Moore-part owned Smashing Eagle.
Smashing Eagle will be ridden by Dylan Gibbons,who was superb on Loch Eagle in the Ingham last Saturday.
Recently,Gibbons was seen in a picture with Santa and looked young enough to receive a present.
Sports news,results and expert commentary..