“He galloped really well on rain-affected ground out wide at Randwick on Tuesday and you just never know with these young horses.
“The timing is right. If he can win Saturday and get himself into the Slipper, you never know. He’s got that little bit of X-factor about him.”
The Randwick track was rated a soft 5 on Friday, but the forecast was for storms on Saturday afternoon.
In the group 1s on Saturday, Rawiller faces a wide draw with Lady Shenandoah in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and a sharp rise in class for Decorum in the Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Chris Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah ($4.80) has gate nine of 10 but Rawiller was excited about her chances after she flashed home for third in the Expressway Stakes in his first ride of the group 1-winning mare.
“I just feel like it’s a great opportunity for her to go to the next level,” said Rawiller, who had the choice between Lady Shenandoah and Gringotts ($8.50).
“She’s had the run under her belt, and she went terrific. It just seems like it’s a lovely race for her.
“It’s obviously going to be hard to win, there are some great horses in it, but I just felt pulling up the other day that, geez, she can win her next one.”
He takes over from Tommy Berry on Micheal Freedman-prepared Decorum ($11) in the Guineas. The Snitzel colt has won three of four starts, losing only to subsequent group 1 winner Attica on debut, but steps up from midweek city grade.
“He’s a really nice colt, and it’s hard to know exactly where his ceiling is,” Rawiller said.
“He’s improving all the time. This will obviously be his toughest test, but he’s a winner.
“I rode him Tuesday morning and he’s one of those horses that just does what he has to, and I tend to love those horses. They keep raising the bar and sticking their head out when it counts.”
Perhaps Rawiller’s best ride on the day is 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick in the group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m). The Clayton Douglas-trained six-year-old is back at Randwick for the first time since finishing second to Bella Nipotina in the 2024 Everest.
“He’s a bit of a legend,” Rawiller said.
“I’m just really excited to have a sit on him. I rode him Tuesday morning and he’s just an absolute gun. Hopefully I can get him home Saturday.”
Baker hoping for clear skies with Paradoxium
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker hopes Paradoxium can strike a dry track when he makes a late bid to book his Golden Slipper spot in the Todman Stakes.
Paradoxium has not raced since winning the Wyong Magic Millions on December 10 at his second start, after travel sickness then pneumonia put him on the sidelines. Despite the break and the fact he needs to win Saturday’s qualifier to make the $5 million Slipper field, he has remained high in markets for the March 21 grand final and was $11 on Friday.
Stablemate Warwoven remained the $6 favourite after a fourth in his comeback from a setback last week in the Skyline Stakes, and now the spotlight turns to Paradoxium.
Warwoven went into that run without a trial, and Baker was pleased to get one winning hit-out into Paradoxium before his moment of truth.
“He’s been going really well, his trial was good, he galloped well on Tuesday, I’m very happy with him,” Baker said.
“He’s got a great temperament, he’s had a day out at the races. Obviously, it’s a tough ask going to the 1200 with only one trial, but we’re happy with him, [jockey] Jason Collett’s happy with him as well.
Bjorn Baker and jockey Jason Collett.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s at least had a trial, so that’s definitely a positive. He had a little bit longer off than Warwoven, so he’s at the races a week later, but we’re happy with him and it’s up to him now to hopefully do the talking.
“And I’m comfortable getting him to a good track, which will look like getting on Saturday. It takes the guessing out of it.”
As for Warwoven, he said: “He’s going to improve off it. He’s come through well and we’re happy with how he’s moving.”
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Baker said Rachini, a $200,000 yearling which he and Clarke Bloodstock then bought for $500,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, was unlikely to take her place in the fillies’ qualifier, the Reisling Stakes.
“We’ll probably wait a week, it’s just too hard from that gate,” he said of the draw in 11 of 13.
Rachini was a listed winner in Melbourne before coming to Sydney, where she has won two Rosehill trials by four lengths, and now looks set to contest the Magic Night Stakes.
