Nash Rawiller after winning on Kirramosa. Picture: Quinn Rooney. Source: Getty Images NASH Rawiller was the hard-luck story of the Melbourne Cup, but he enhanced his reputation as one of the nation's premier jockeys during a stellar spring carnival.
Rawiller was dumped from the winning ride on Fiorente for Gai Waterhouse, but he won three Group 1s, a Group 2, two Listed races and two other quality events during the carnival.
And that was despite missing the two Moonee Valley meetings because of suspension.
If results at the carnival are an example of how his sudden availability is appreciated by trainers, Rawiller will be a power without any dependency on Waterhouse.
Nash Rawiller winning on Dothraki during Stakes Day at Flemington. Picture: Quinn Rooney. Source: Getty Images He did not ride a winner for his former employer during the carnival, but was snapped up for winning rides by Victorian trainer David Hayes, New Zealander John Sargent, Queenslanders Robert Heathcote and Danny Bougoure and NSW's Chris Waller, John O'Shea and Gerald Ryan.
He has the best of both worlds - freelancing for top rides and still maintaining a strong bond with Waterhouse.
"I think it has been good for me. I have a manager, Brett Grant, who has made a massive difference for me,'' Rawiller said.
"I can seek rides that haven't necessarily got the form but are on the way up. Longport was the perfect example. He ran really nicely first-up and I got the ride and won the last race at Flemington.
Nash Rawiller is nursing more than a sore ego after being forced to ride bareback when Opinion lost his irons in the Carnival Handicap."When I was full-time at Gai's, I couldn't look for rides outside the stable until after weights were declared. By that time everybody had moved and there wasn't a lot available to me."
Rawiller was chuffed to be given the Ron Hutchinson Award for the best performance in a Group 1 race during the Flemington carnival.
"That was the icing on the cake," he said of the award presented to him in the Victoria Racing Club committee room after the last race on Saturday.
"It was an absolute honour. To be chosen to win that award is a terrific compliment, especially as it comes from Ron Hutchinson, who is a legend in Australian racing history."
Rawiller, 38, was unsure what race won him the award, but he'd like to think it was for his relentless pumping to get grand mare Red Tracer over the line ahead of stablemate Catkins in the Group 1 Myer Classic.
Nash Rawiller has topped off a fantastic Flemington carnival by riding Longport to a victory in the Emirates Airline Handicap."It was great to get her over the line because she has come a long way,'' he said.
"I have had eight rides on her for seven wins (two Group 1s, two Group 2s and two Group 3s among them) so she is special to me."
Rawiller said he loved coming home to Melbourne to ride, but for the time being he would concentrate on Sydney racing and travel only for carnivals.
"The carnival in Melbourne is just amazing,'' he said. "They do it so well, with the crowds, the tracks, the way they showcase racing."
Rawiller started the carnival with victory in the first race on Caulfield Guineas day, and ended it with success in the final race at Flemington.
There were a few bumps in between - notably his "straightback" ride on Opinion when the irons broke when the horse jumped in the 2800m race, and his heartbreak at missing the Cup ride on Fiorente - but Rawiller reckons all up he's come out of the carnival a big winner.
NASH RAWILLER'S SPRING CARNIVAL WINS
CAULFIELD
Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) Moonlight Hussler $17
Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) Solzhenitsyn $6
Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) Red Tracer $3.90
MOONEE VALLEY
Suspended for both meetings
FLEMINGTON
Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) Red Tracer $3.10
Schweppes #flemingtonfling (1000m) Bernabeu $13
Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) Kirramosa $2.70
Listed Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1400m) Dothraki $12
Emirate Airline Handicap (1400m) Longport $7
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