Nash Rawiller is looking forward to getting to grips with Hong Kong racing. The three-time Sydney champion met the media this morning at Sha Tin racecourse ahead of the commencement of a four-month contract with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“It’s an absolute honour to be here in Hong Kong, it’s one of the things I’ve always looked forward to doing - it’s a goal I set at an early stage in my career,” said the Australian. “It’s taken a while to get here but I’m really pleased to have this opportunity to ride in Hong Kong.”
Rawiller follows a long line of talented Australian riders who have plied their craft at Sha Tin and Happy Valley down the years. Hong Kong Champion Jockey Zac Purton is among the current crop and Rawiller is taking nothing for granted as he steps into what he recognises to be one of the toughest circuits in world racing.
“It’s important to find new challenges, to keep improving and take the next step,” he said. “Here in Hong Kong I’ll be riding against some of the best jockeys in the world and it’s not going to be easy, but I believe it’s going to make me an even better jockey.”
Rawiller, 39, ended the 2013/14 Australian season with eight G1 wins under his belt. His success in his homeland has brought him three Sydney Premierships and 58 G1 wins in total, and four times he has been the leading jockey in terms of the number of G1 wins in a season. “Those were things I dreamed of in my early 20s,” said the rider, who has partnered some of the biggest Australian stars of recent times, the likes of More Joyous, Pierro and Elvstroem.
“My career didn’t take off until well into my 20s and at that stage I started riding for good trainers and had the opportunity to ride good horses, so I took those opportunities that came my way and capitalised. It began to snowball and I went to Sydney to ride for Gai Waterhouse,” said Rawiller, explaining his career path so far. “I had one of the best jobs in Australia and a young family, so I put my feet in cement a little bit and stayed in Sydney - I had goals I wanted to achieve there. That took travelling out of the equation for a while.”
Now that he has made the decision to relocate his family to Hong Kong, he is relishing the challenge ahead. Due to a suspension incurred earlier this month while riding in Japan, the jockey will be available to return to race-riding on 8 October.
“The main focus now is to work hard and do the best I can here in Hong Kong,” said Rawiller, whose previous Hong Kong experience came at the 2010 International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley. “I’m under no illusions: Hong Kong is going to be a tough gig. I’m going to have to work hard to give myself a chance to get on some good horses and I’m excited to get started.”
Mr Steve Railton, Stipendiary Steward and Secretary, Licensing Committee at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The Club is very pleased to have a rider of Nash’s ability and calibre. The Club strives to get jockeys who are champions in their own countries and Nash fits that criterion; his record speaks for itself, he’s a world-class jockey with a significant list of achievements at the very highest level.”
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Photo 1:
Kim Kelly (right), the Club��s Chief Stipendiary Steward and Steve Railton (left), Stipendiary Steward & Secretary, Licensing Committee, welcome Nash Rawiller to the Hong Kong jockey ranks.
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Photo 2:
Nash Rawiller is hoping for success during his riding stint in Hong Kong.
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