Leading jockey Nash Rawiller said the stunning barrier trial performance of Fiorente at Royal Randwick on Friday has helped him move on from the retirements of champions Pierro and More Joyous.

Nash Rawiller is confident that Fiorente can be a 2013 Spring Racing Carnival Star. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Rawiller partnered More Joyous in seven Group 1 victories and won the two-year-old Triple Crown with Pierro in 2012, and was left shattered when both horses were retired within a week of each other in April.

No jockey is ever happy when they lose such quality mounts but Rawiller is clearly delighted that he has the opportunity to ride another potential champion out of the Gai Waterhouse stable.

“I haven’t had a horse excite me that much for a long time,” Rawiller told Racing Ahead on RSN.

“I got on the phone to Gai straight after the trial and I said I’m not as shattered about Pierro and More Joyous being retired after riding this bloke.

“I suppose that he is a worthy replacement.”

Fiorente has been set for a Melbourne Cup path, after finishing second behind Green Moon in the race last year, but Rawiller believes the Monsun entire can also be a contender in weight-for-age races.

“I know that he is going to be very, very competitive in the handicaps but I think he can also be very competitive in the Cox Plate,” Rawiller said.

Rawiller has been in red-hot form since returning from an ankle injury and is now only one and a half wins behind Hugh Bowman in the race for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.

After riding four winners at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday Rawiller has momentum on his side but, although he considers himself a chance, believes it will be difficult to go past his riding rival.

“There are still three meetings left and you sort of expect that Hughie is going to ride two or three winners in the last couple of meetings that he has left, which obviously makes it hard for me,” Boss said.

“Hopefully I can give him a real run for his money.”