3 minute read
Nash Rawiller has fond memories of Derby day at Randwick and hopes to add more this year with feature rides on Pierro, Foxwedge and Laser Hawk.
Nash Rawiller announced his arrival in Sydney with a bang on Australian Derby day at Randwick five years ago and has every chance of starring yet again at the corresponding meeting on Saturday.
Lured to Sydney from Melbourne by Gai Waterhouse for an initial three-month stint in April 2007, Rawiller started with victory in the Group One TJ Smith Stakes on Bentley Biscuit at his first meeting riding for the trainer.
Rawiller has since established himself as Sydney's leading jockey with two premierships and last week enjoyed a career highlight with a Group One double including the Golden Slipper on Pierro.
That same colt forms part of an outstanding book of Group One rides for Rawiller at Randwick on Saturday, with Pierro to tackle Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard in the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
Rawiller will also chase his third win in the TJ Smith Stakes when he rides Foxwedge while Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk is favourite for the $1.5 million Australian Derby.
Rawiller can't fault the unbeaten Pierro and is confident the colt is up for the challenge of taking on the also unbeaten All Too Hard who shades him for favouritism.
"He (Pierro) has been outstanding," Rawiller said.
"I think he's a super colt. Put it this way, I've got confidence in my bloke and I'm not going to go out there worried about what he (All Too Hard) is doing.
"He's more than likely going to have to chase me down. I've got all the confidence in the world in my bloke and he'll be bloody hard to beat."
All Too Hard, with Dwayne Dunn to ride, is the $1.50 TAB Sportsbet favourite ahead of Pierro at $2.50.
The pair dominate the market with Pierro's stablemate Raceway next best at $26 in the field of seven.
Rawiller said the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) is a pretty special race to him given his victory on Bentley Biscuit in 2007.
"It was tremendous to win it when I first came up here and then I was able to win it again on Takeover Target two years later," Rawiller said.
"Obviously it was a massive thrill to ride him that day. The race is special to me and I'm really happy with the horse I'm riding in it tomorrow (Foxwedge)."
Rawiller has always had a huge opinion of Laser Hawk and said the Derby favourite had come through his Rosehill Guineas win in good order.
"I saw him this morning at the track and he looks magnificent," he said.
