Golden Slipper Day 2013 produced the best horses and best jockeys fighting for more than $7 million in prize money.
Headlines will tell you about the brilliance of Overreach and the training performance by Gai Waterhouse to win the Golden Slipper for a fifth time – and take third place as well, by the way.
They might also mention the BMW win of three-year old colt Fivenadhalfstar who gamely beat the older horses and broke his recent streak of finishing runner-up.
Or you could read about the brilliant colt Pierro, who was given a fight down the Rosehill straight but battled gamely to win over 10 time Group 1 winner, King Mufhasa.
But will enough be made about the failure of More Joyous?
Sydney’s best mare failed to run a place in the Queen of the Turf stakes, despite winning both the 2011 and 2012 editions of the race and going into the race a hot $1.70 favourite.
It was the performance of lead jockey Nash Rawiller which will have people talking. More Joyous can only run as she is piloted.
The race unfolded badly for Rawiller. He bounded out badly on More Joyous, leaving the gates fairly but only in line with others. Despite being in barrier 1, she was crossed and trailed two horses out in front of her. She prefers to run out in front, daring others to try and head her.
As the race progressed, other runners closed in around her and by the corner, she hadn’t found her way out of trouble.
Into the straight, the Rawiller attempted to get clear but without clear galloping room, was squeezed out of a run between Streama and the tiring Spirit Song with around 300-400 metres to go down the straight.
Rawiller finally checked the horse, moved her to the outside and she closed well to finish fifth.
It was a shocking ride. Yet, the old lines were brought out by connections. John Singleton was forgiving, saying it wasn’t her day.
Rawiller was more apologetic, but seemed somewhat indignant: “She was a certainty beaten. Everyone saw what happened, it wasn’t her day. What do you do.”
Well, Nash. Not being a jockey, I don’t know exactly. But the problem is, Joyous was the best horse, from the best barrier.
What do you do? Ride aggressively. Don’t get put where they want to put you. Hugh Bowman out-thought you in terms of tactics, and staying off the fence didn’t help.
The best jockeys, time and again, fight for every slim chance. It makes betting on a Rawiller horse that much harder.
Macdiva
Guest
Absolutely heart-breaking to see her blocked at every turn. No matter, she had the will to win and looked like she might jump over them to get to the post. She was placed in a dangerous position and it is great that she pulled up sound. She actually bounded out of the gates well and should have led them up, then gone to full throttle in the straight.
Bondy
Guest
Rawiller was a victim of circumstance if he's guilty of anything he should 've known its just as important to other Jocks to put a $1.40 sp horse in a pocket than to try and beat it. I can understand the frustration she was the banker of all bankers, does anyone notice the no name jockeys dont make mistakes in the big races, their not there, their sluggin it out at Kembla on Saturdays for $7 k in prizemoney. Nash features heavilly in and after carnivals in relation to rides or poor rides are we expecting to much. Nice article you wouldn't find something like this in the Dailys,maybe deafy Callender might pick it up tomorrow. It would've been hard to lose yesterday,the bookmakers were punished.
The Grafter
Guest
A terrible ride that reiterates not to touch 'the shorties'.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Agree with some points of the article but intelligent comments here as well - Nash was aggressive, but senselessly so. He put her in an awful spot, but didn't back off and try again. He just kept pushing her into that awful precarious position. I don't think she should have been crossed but it's not unusual for that to happen. And yes rattattat - Rawiller is lucky Pierro is one of the most dominant horses around, as he was made to work terribly hard. Gut-busting. Great comments!
Travis Noonan
Roar Rookie
Arguably it wasn't Nash's best ride and I agree with most of the points made. Though he usually has her 3rd or 4th in the run and usually he gets crossed. He made the wrong choice going for the run between Streama and Spirit Song as the run had already closed b4 he was halfway through the horse ran a mighty race and I think you can back her next start with confidence
rattattat
Guest
Yes, about the ride. I take issue with you that Nash wasn't aggressive. I didn't think More Joyous would win but I was wrong she should have. Straight after they jumped Nash was aggressively trying to move out into Streama, and Bowman was having none of it. I was shocked at how he kept on persisting to battle with Streama instead of slotting in behind a little to get one off. Anyway, you'd think he would've learned his lesson from that but no he then counted on Streama giving him the gap after the corner instead of working out an alternative route. Go Figure! Dumb! And then he learns his lesson after the race and almost gets Pierro beat by pushing himself out to sit 3 wide for no reason?