Top Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller will be the new rider for last start winner Howmuchdoyouloveme in the Group 3 $175,000 W J Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Howmuchdoyouloveme scored at his first run for new trainer Tina Cotsiopoulus in the Listed $80,000 Evergreen Turf Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 with regular rider Brenton Avdulla.
But Avdulla received a nine meetings careless riding suspension for causing interference at the 300m on the four year old and is on the sidelines until midnight June 29.
Howmuchdoyouloveme had only been under Cotsiopoulus care for a couple of weeks after being transferred out of Con Karakatsanis’ stable while that trainer is serving a disqualification on a drugs related charge.
“The horse has been stabled with me in the past but I’ve actually been the trainer for only for a couple of weeks,’’ said Cotsiopoulos.
“He has so much ability and because of that has taken on the best horses the whole way through.”
Howmuchdoyouloveme was outstanding first up in the Spring, producing a two lengths win in the Group 2 $220,000 Perri Cutten Caulfield Sprint (1100m) at Caulfield on October 20 before his form tapered off.
The Lightning was the four year old olds first start since finishing down the track behind Black Caviar in the Group 1 $1m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 13.
Howmuchdoyouloveme has been allocated 60kg in the Healy Stakes and will share the topweight with last week’s Eye Liner Stakes winner Conservatorium.
Rawiller has also retained the ride on the Chris Waller trainer Red Tracer who will be one of the top fancies in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
Red Tracer was back in the winner’s list at Eagle Farm last start with Rawiller when she proved too strong for Floria in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) on June 8 and is not far off winning her maiden Group 1.
The Dane Shadow mare was beaten twice by Appearance in consecutive Rosehill Group 1 races during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
With Corey Brown on board, Red Tracer failed by a nose in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 23 and was gallant when a half length second in the $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) on April 6.
Rawiller has also picked up the ride on the Leon Corstens trained Zabeelionaire in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Draught Tattersall’s Cup (2200m).
Corstens has been desperately waiting for a dry track for the South Australian Derby winner after the four year old has run into a succession of rain affected tracks.