Rawiller aims for best of days
JOCKEY Brad Rawiller has an affinity with the Kingston Town Classic, having won it twice, and he thinks he has the right horse to land him a third with Best Of Days at Ascot today.
Rawiller won the Group 1 race on Niconero in 2004 and 2006 and he thinks Best Of Days profiles similarly, expecting the gelding to relish 1800m.
Rawiller said Best Of Days’ last-start second in the Railway Stakes to Regal Power at Ascot suggested he was on track for today’s assignment.
“He was fit enough to run the mile but he would have taken improvement. He won the Coongy over 2000m (at
Caulfield last year) and 1800m is perfect,” Rawiller said.
“I thought it was a super run in the Railway and he’ll be much better suited at weightfor-age conditions. It would be nice to win a third.”
Trainer James Cummings has changed Best Of Days’ gear, putting a tongue tie on and taking off the crossover noseband he wore at his last start, and Rawiller said he would be doing it for a good reason.
“He doesn’t miss anything with a horse. He knows their peculiarities inside and out,” Rawiller said.
“If he’s done a gear change you know there’s a reason there.”
Rawiller said he would be thrilled to land a Group 1 winner for Cummings who has played in a pivotal role in his comeback from a broken neck he suffered in October 2018.
“I asked him for a favour for a month whether I could ride one or two so I could get my fitness back,” he said.
“I did a bit of work on Best Of Days after he didn’t jump in the Futurity (and) six months later it’s come to fruition.”