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Rawiller happy for quality over quantity

Sunday 5 July 2009
By Robert Windmill

Brad Rawiller says he has had his most enriching season and that defending his national jockeys' premiership title has not been a priority for him this year.

Rawiller, who failed to add to his tally at Ballarat, has ridden nearly 80 fewer winners than last season but says the year has been more about establishing himself as a city rider and seizing big race rides.

"It was never about winning the national premiership this year," Rawiller said.

"It was all about getting to the bigger meetings and wanting to be known as a big race rider.

"I rode for six weeks in Perth, was at most meetings during the Brisbane carnival as well as the Sydney carnival and in Adelaide as well."

Rawiller won nine Group races this season including Group Ones on Phelan Ready (Golden Slipper), Weekend Hussler (Underwood Stakes) and Niconero (Kingston Town Classic).

"It has been a good year," Rawiller said.

"No doubt last year was my best with 217 winners and six Group Ones but this year I have won a major, a Golden Slipper, and I would never, never change that.

"I have consolidated myself as a city rider and that was always my aim this year."

Rawiller rode a double at Flemington on Saturday aboard Rose Syrah in the Rivette Final and Pacino in the Dulcify Handicap to take his season tally of winners to 139 including 128 in Victoria.

Nationally, he trails Greg Ryan who has ridden 140 winners.

Ryan is riding under a stay of proceedings ahead of his appeal against a 10-meeting careless riding suspension, which will be heard by Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday.

Last year Rawiller became the first jockey to ride more than 200 winners in a season in Victoria.

This week he leaves for a two-week working holiday in Europe and plans to ride work for champion trainer Aidan O'Brien at Newmarket in England, and in France.

He will return to Melbourne at the end of the month and ride at Moonee Valley on July 25.

Meanwhile, jockey Craig Newitt had a memorable day at Ballarat booting home four winners.

"It's not very often you get to ride four winners these days," Newitt told TVN.

"It's about the fourth time I've done it so it's good."

Newitt scored wins aboard Gruenfeld, Money Can't Buy and Our Tycoon before rounding out his quartet on Live Eight in the final race.