Victoria’s leading jockey Brad Rawiller has been given the task of steering Platelet to back to back wins in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Brad Rawiller is the new rider for Platelet in the Sportingbet Classic. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The 2013 Sportingbet Classic, registered as Robert Sangster Stakes, was the first leg of a winning Group 1 double for Platelet at last year Morphettville Autumn Carnival.
The Darren Weir trained mare then went on to win the Group 1 $500,000 The Distinctive Homes Goodwood (1200m) with Ben Melham in the saddle for both Group 1 victories.
Rawiller leads the overall Victorian jockey’s premiership with one hundred and twelve winners and has a good association with Weir who leads the overall Victorian trainer’s premiership as well as heading up the Melbourne metropolitan trainer’s list.
The ride on Platelet in the Sportingbet Classic became available when Damien Lane, who was originally booked to ride Platelet, was suspended at Caulfield last Saturday and then substitute rider Michelle Payne was also sent out for careless riding at Caulfield on Monday.
Lane, who rode Platelet at her latest run when second as favourite to Driefontein in the Group 3 $115,000 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 12 was sent out for careless riding for twenty-four meetings for causing interference in the Bert Bryant Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday and is out until midnight May 16.
While Payne, who was then engaged to ride Platelet, was subsequently suspended for seven meeting for careless rising for causing interference in the Elvis ‘Ricky’ Thurgood 34 Anniversary Plate (1200m) at Caulfield on Monday and is out until April 28.
Rawiller was keen to get on Platelet, the equal $5.50 favourite for the Sportingbet Classic, when the ride became available but first had to get a release from the Clarry Conners trainer Satin Shoes, a $31 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Top local jockey Jason Holder is the new rider for Satin Shoes who was beaten less than four lengths when seventh to Driefontein in the R N Irwin Stakes.
“I actually rode trackwork last Tuesday just to help Clarry and the ride became available,” Holder told The Advertiser.
“It was a blessing in disguise that I rode at trackwork, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
The Robert Smerdon trained Shamal Wind shares favouritism with Platelet at $5.50 and is coming off a win over 1000m at Flemington on April 5.
The Sportingbet Classic is shaping up as a hotly contested betting race with seven runners under double figures.
Villa Verde from the Anthony Cummings is coming over from Sydney after running eighth to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12 and is marked as a $6 chance alongside of Gregers with Politeness at $7.50, A Time For Julia at $8 and Driefontein at $8.50.
Ladbrokes.com.au customers have the chance to sign up for the Ladbrokes Card to gain quick access to their winnings through any ATM and via EFTPOS.
