Rawiller Within A Win Of Premiership Lead

Nash Rawiller is now only half a win behind Hugh Bowman in the thrilling race for the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership after scoring a narrow win on Fine Bubbles in the Laundry Machinery Solutions Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury yesterday.

Nash Rawiller is now only half a win behind Hugh Bowman in the race for the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership. Photo by: Daniel Costello

The finish to the race could not have been any closer with the judge taking more than five minutes to award Fine Bubbles the win over Pleiades while NSW Racing Chief Steward Ray Murrihy admitted that the margin was ‘a fraction of a nose’.

Rawiller was almost able to take the outright lead in the following race but his mount Kristy Lee finished second behind The Look in the Mantra Group Sprint (1200m) before Rawiller recorded another second place finish on Fullerton in the Xlerator Dryer Handicap (1900m).

The leading jockey had the ride on favourite Omniscient in the final race of the day but the Exceed And Excel filly got too far back in the field and could only run on to finish third.

Yesterday’s results set up an exciting day of racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday with Bowman set return to riding after serving a four meeting suspension for careless riding.

Rawiller has the upper hand over Bowman with mounts in all eight races on the card including plumb rides on Watabout in the opener, Total Attraction in the JMR Creative Design Handicap (1200m), Madam Nash in the Sinclair Hyundai Handicap (2400m) and Eigelstein in the Imperial Hotel Paddington Handicap (1400m).

Bowman has rides in seven races and will need to get the best out of Gullible in the Trainer Connections Handicap (1400m), Group 2 winner Havana Rey in the July Sprint (1200m) and Grafton Cup runner-up Yulalona in the Sinclair Hyundai Handicap.

The premiership race will be concluded at the final metropolitan meeting of the 2012/2013 racing season at Warwick Farm on Wednesday July 31.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.