Attorney appealing

Veteran jockey’s judgment call

CHAMPION jockey Nash Rawiller has declared progressive stayer Attorney a genuine Sydney Cup contender after combining to win the Listed $300,000 Pakenham Cup (2500m) yesterday.

Sydney-based Rawiller, who returned to Melbourne this week, to be with family for the festive season, has had an immediate and not surprising impact on the local riding ranks.

In his seven rides in Melbourne before Attorney, Rawiller, a 61-time Group 1winner, who rode at Sandown on Wednesday and The Valley on Friday, registered five minor placings.

The breakthrough win on Saturday came after a pearl of a ride, and delivered Rawiller his second Pakenham Cup after a 2003 success, with Mr Casanova, for the late training legend Colin Alderson.

“I’ve got to be honest, I’ve had good support all week and that’s the first winner,” Rawiller said. “It’s good to be back and catch up with old friends and acquaintances that I’ve ridden for over the years, and they’ve been kind enough to give me a nice ride.”

The Matthew Smithtrained OTI-owned galloper relished the strong speed upfront to settle in a stalking position just worse than midfield. With Princess Jenni caught wide and forced into making an early move, Rawiller slid in behind the mare to get a nice cart into the windy straight.

Attorney made the most of the fast lanes down the middle of the track to hold out Creedence and Knights Order.

“He’s a really good stayer, he just proved that,” Rawiller said. “It was a bit of a slog but he really shone through when it counted. He’ll be placed to advantage in the autumn where he could almost win a Sydney Cup or something like that. He’s a nice horse.”

The 2019 Pakenham Cup winner Etah James trained to win the Sydney Cup this year. Victorian-born Sydney trainer Matthew Smith backed up Rawiller’s autumn target for Attorney.

“He’s always looked like he’s a 2400-plus horse,” Smith said.