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Australia’s best jockey to take on the world in Hong Kong

Roar Guru
29th July, 2014
5

Nash Rawiller left Australia in June with a commanding lead in the Sydney Jockey’s Premiership, a lead that which was such a commanding one that it’s going to take the last day of the Sydney Metropolitan calendar for James McDonald to dethrone him.

Currently Rawiller and the young Kiwi prodigy McDonald sit on 70 wins a piece, it has been a frustrating fortnight for McDonald who struggled to get the two wins required to draw level with Rawiller.

Reigning provided the winner for McDonald on Saturday that drew the pair level. If McDonald is successful on one of his four rides on Wednesday, then he will become the youngest winner of the premiership since 20-year-old Blake Shinn won the 2007-08 title.

The relief was evident on the face of McDonald when returning after his ride on Reigning

“It is a relief to win this race, especially after (last) Wednesday,” said McDonald in reference to his two luckless seconds and an unplaced ride on a hot favourite during a frustrating afternoon at Canterbury.

“The last two months have been very hard as my momentum has been stopped a few times.

“But it is good to get on the board and hopefully I can keep rolling from here.

“It is a long season and to get so close – the last two weeks have been very hard.”

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Even if he loses the Premiership it won’t be a drama for Rawiller who is thoroughly enjoying his spell in Japan. His skill at the moment is quite evident after a recent race meeting in Sapporo when he got a little known maiden called Roi Sable home in Race 2.

The horse was previously unplaced in all its previous starts, but with Rawiller on-board the horse looked like it had all the hallmarks of a champion. Which is why I’m slightly disappointed that Rawiller has recently taken up a riding contract in Hong Kong in September.

On my part I’m selfish, as a racing fan I want to see the best jockeys possible racing in Australia in the spring. If that was the case I’d wish for Zac Purton and Brett Prebble to take up permanent residence in Australia during the Spring Racing Carnival.

But that’s simply not going to happen, but it does put a dampener on the carnival as I firmly believe that Nash Rawiller is the best jockey in Australia and Japan at this present time. But when you consider the selflessness that Rawiller has already shown in giving up a certain Premiership, you start to understand why he is doing it.

After dominating the Australian racing scene for so long, Rawiller is taking the challenge of defeating some of the world’s most skilful jockeys. He is also fulfilling a lifelong ambition of racing in Japan for which he has wanted to do since he started becoming a successful jockey, and now Hong Kong as well where the world’s best all go to show their skill.

If I step out of wanting what’s best for Australian racing and step look at things through the eyes of just a racing enthusiast, the month of September in Hong Kong is going to have some excellent battles.

For instance newly crowned champion of the track Zac Purton is already looking to defend his crown against Douglas Whyte and Joao Moreira but when you include Rawiller as well it looks set to produce a contest to water the mouth of even the most seasoned racing expert.

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Rawiller has been given a license until mid-season which is usually the case with new riders but he has already stated that he wants to show he can be the best rider in the world.

The Hoop has already made plans to move his family to Sha Tin and in an interview with the South China Morning Post, he shows a real hunger for the new challenge.

“I’m coming to make a go of it, the timing is right and I thought it was time to jump in the deep end,” Rawiller said from Japan, where he is in the first month of a 10-week riding contract for powerful owner Kazuko Yoshida.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and if everything goes as planned I will be staying.

“I’ve been riding for 23 years now and ever since I started having some success, riding in Hong Kong was something I wanted to do. I have followed the racing closely and I don’t expect it to be easy, but I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

For Rawiller it won’t be easy, and he may even struggle to establish himself in Hong Kong, but he has shown before that he has all the attributes to be successful.

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