The early morning Warwick Farm race day scratchings have virtually lifted Nash Rawiller over the line for his third Sydney jockey premiership.
Nash Rawiller has the upper hand for premiership honours. Photo by Daniel Costello
Rawiller won the title in the 2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011 seasons and heads into today’s meeting on 75 wins, a two and half win lead over Hugh Bowman who is still technically an outside chance to pull off a miracle.
Bowman has been the front runner for the last couple of months and looks certain to win his third premiership before a late surge by Rawiller who has ridden 21 city winners in the last month, including a quartet of winners at the last two Saturday meetings.
Rawiller originally had a full book of rides but that has been reduced to six with the race one scratching of Empress Elect.
At acceptance time Bowman had secured six rides but has ended up with four after the Chris Waller trained Pinot Gris and Allan Denham’s Pleasurena were both withdrawn.
But Bowman will put up a fight with his never say die attitude that he has displayed in the past.
“There is no rules to it you just need to go out and do your best and that is what I will be doing,” Bowman told Racing Ahead.
“If I had to pick a track to be doing it on it would be Warwick Farm as I just seem to have a lot of luck there.”
Race by Race
Race 1 – Neither jockey has a ride.
Race 2 – Bowman is on the $2.20 favourite Msongari with Rawiller’s mount Diamond Jim a $7 chance. A must win race for Bowman.
Race 3 – Rawiller is on $4 second favourite Aussies Love Sport, Bowman doesn’t have a mount.
Race 4 – Rawiller looks to have the upper hand here on $3.30 favourite Cloud Valley, Bowman’s mount Sweet Talking Lady is rated a $6 chance.
Race 5 – Bowman gets his chance to claim one back one $3.50 favourite Syncopated with Rawiller on $5.50 chance Nediym’s Quest.
Race 6 – Both riders are on $12 outsiders, Rawiller on Slippery Moss and Bowman on Paseo Del Prado.
Race 7 – Rawiller will end the day on another favourite, Sir Berus at $3.90, while Bowman will sit out the last, but his fate would have been known several races earlier.
