The caring hands of Nash Rawiller got Here To Shock to where he could win the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, then the champion jockey’s renowned vigour helped fend off fellow Big Dance contenders to take the $1.5 million prize.
In the first 200 metres from the 1400m start, Rawiller was positive without overdoing it to find the one-one position. That had him in front of Gringotts and Waterford, which charged at him late.
Nash Rawiller and Here To Shock win the Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
When they came at Here To Shock in the straight, Rawiller got the best out of the reluctant galloper to hold them off and win.
“You got to be careful with him because you don’t want to send him the message to go because he can overdo it, so I got him to go but did in a manner where it was controlled,” Rawiller said.
“He travelled well, but you want to build your momentum with him knowing you’re probably going to be left in front there a long way from home. He didn’t really want to go on with it either; he sort of felt his job was done a bit.
“But what I loved was once Gringotts got to him he was there for the fight. Although he was lost in front, when he needed to he found when the chips were down.”
Here To Shock ($10), just as he did in the Cameron Handicap at his last start, dug in to hold a margin of a long head from Gringotts ($3.70 favourite), with Waterford ($8) steaming home a neck away in third.
“I thought I had the winner a few times but the winner was rock-hard fit and we were only second-up. He is spot-on for the Big Dance,” Gringotts’ rider, Tommy Berry, said.
Sam Clipperton also thought his horse, Waterford, had Here To Shock covered as well.
“At the 200m when I blended into it I thought he was nearly going to win but just found a couple better there,” Clipperton said. “We came here to get a big cheque and that is what he got, and he will improve.”
El Castello sends Gloaming warning
Anthony Cummings thinks El Castello is ready to get “in his wheelhouse” in the Spring Champion Stakes and the Victoria Derby after his convincing win in the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
El Castello is unbeaten in three runs this campaign, which has been focused on the classic staying tests since it began last month.
El Castello, ridden by Josh Parr, is unbeaten this preparation.Credit: Getty Images
“Up until now he has just been looking to get out in trip, and we are about to see how good he is in his wheelhouse at 2000m and beyond,” Cummings said.
“I think he gets better again at 2000m, and I think he’ll get better again given that we go to Melbourne.”
Josh Parr put El Castello in a perfect position in the running line a couple of lengths from the lead, and when he asked him to accelerate the race was quickly over. El Castello ($6.50) opened up to win by a length from favourite Swiftfalcon ($2.60), which got well back in the field and charged home, with Firm Agreement ($26) a short head back in third.
“It was the first time he put a field away. He’s usually hanging around waiting for something to challenge him,” Cummings said.
“It didn’t work out exactly as we thought it might, but nevertheless he was in the right position and able to show that he’s a really good stayer in the making.”
Jay Ford said Swiftfalcon, which remained the $2.60 Spring Champion favourite, simply had given up too much start because he had drawn wide.
“He was a victim of the gate and the race got away on us a little bit. Nothing to take us into it, but he closed off really well,” Ford said.
Attrition repays Mertens’ faith
It had been a year since Attrition became a group 1 winner and a year since he had won, but jockey Beau Mertens never lost faith and it was rewarded in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill.
Attrition arrived in Sydney last year after winning the Toorak Handicap and was set to test himself in the Golden Eagle before being scratched, and nothing much has gone right since.
Beau Mertens wins the Hill Stakes aboard Attrition.Credit: Getty Images
Further setbacks followed but in his first unbroken preparation since last spring Attrition returned to best and was too strong in the Hill Stakes.
“It’s been a long journey, obviously a year to the day since winning the Toorak. We’ve been on a ride,” Mertens said.
“He’s been unbelievable for my career, this horse. I’ve stuck by him where he’s put in a few bad ones, but I’ve always had faith that he could come back. And for him to do that, first time stepping up to 1900m, just unbelievable.”
Attrition ($26) was first to chase leader Royal Patronage ($3.90 favourite) and kicked clear before holding off a late challenge Kovalica ($4.40) to score by a long neck, with the favourite sticking on for third.
