By Craig Kerry
Jockey Nash Rawiller and Lindermann made a habit out of setting the pace and breaking the hearts of their second-tier opposition in the spring as part of a plan to build confidence for another shot at the elite level.
Rawiller believes front-running wins in the group 2 Chelmsford and Hill Stakes, and the group 3 Craven Plate have done just that, but he admits to a bit of heartbreak himself at the sight of the opposition on Saturday in the group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Nash Rawiller pushes Lindermann to victory in the Chelmsford Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
This time last year the combination finished second to Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes, beating home champion Via Sistina. They were then third to the Chris Waller-trained stablemates in the group 1 Verry Elleegant and later second to Via Sistina in the Ranvet Stakes.
With Via Sistina retired and Fangirl due back in the autumn because of an injury setback, Lindermann should be getting his chance to shine in the Apollo.
Enter unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow ($1.55), the new darling of Australian racing, a revitalised Aeliana ($9) and Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf ($6), a dual group 1 winner in the spring.
Nash Rawiller returns a winner on Lindermann in the Hill Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
“That’s the heartbreaking thing, isn’t it?” Rawiller said.
“He kept running into champions for probably 18 months, and now he’s probably got … who knows how good they are, but they are pretty bloody good, so he’s going to have to be at his best.
“But he will certainly give them something to chase.”
Rawiller and Waller give Lindermann ($9) a chance. Waller noted that Lindermann was the quickest of his six stars in exhibition gallops last Saturday and said he was “going to be hard to beat”.
“First and second up, there’s his chance to beat the better ones,” said Waller, who believed the Ranvet was Lindermann’s “type of race”.
Fangirl (pink colours), winning the Apollo Stakes last year from Lindermann, left.Credit: Getty Images
He said Rawiller was the “leader” in setting up Lindermann’s plan of bypassing the Cox Plate and other top races in the spring to focus on the autumn.
Now Rawiller felt Lindermann may be in better shape than he was this time last year.
“That’s exciting to think,” he said.
“I thought the second trial was beautiful, and he just does what he does there the other day in the exhibition gallop. He just runs quicker time than you think, he just does it so easy.
“He was under a nice hold and he gave me a great feel, and I think he showed he’s come on from the trial and he’s ready for a first-up tilt.”
Rawiller rode Lindermann to his sole group 1 victory, three years ago in the Rosehill Guineas, and has built a strong bond with the winner of $4 million.
“He’s just a horse that never lets you down,” he said.
“He’s run a few bad ones on rain-affected tracks, but aside from that, he just gives you his heart and soul. He’s going to make his own luck, he’s going to be in the first three.
“If they go mad, he’s sitting two off them, and if he leads by two, he’s probably going quicker than most horses would. He’s got a high cruising speed that I like to use on him and that’s his strength. I think that’s why I’ve got on so well with him.”
The spotlight, though, will firmly be on Autumn Glow as she looks to take her perfect record to nine.
“She’s forward enough to win, but she’s only going to improve with the run and she’s the real deal,” Waller said of his resuming Golden Eagle winner.
He said Aeliana had returned bigger and stronger after a hit-and-miss spring and labelled her “my biggest concern” when it came to maintaining Autumn Glow’s streak on Saturday.
Rawiller links with Lady Shenandoah and Savvy Hallie for the first time in other features.
Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah returns in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Brad Widdup’s Savvy Hallie looms as the main threat to Apocalyptic in the Light Fingers (1200m).
Lady Shenandoah has had two quiet trials and put in the slowest of the six exhibition gallops last Saturday, but Rawiller was backing her to fire from gate one.
“She’s always performed first-up, she’s drawn a lovely gate to leave her alone early and just use her blistering finish when the gaps come,” he said.
“I’m really excited about riding her. She’s a very high-class mare on her day and Chris isn’t one to really unleash the shackles before taking them to the races, so who knows? She could have come back better than ever and that’s probably what her form suggests she might.
“Savvy Hallie is another one I’m excited to pick up the ride on. Her form is impeccable and she’s got a run under her belt.”
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