By Andrew Hawkins
Nash Rawiller combined with trainer Danny Shum to snare a Class 3 trophy race on Sunday, and the former Sydney champion has high hopes that in-form Inventor can pull out something similar with a victory in Wednesday’s (19 October) Class 3 Fakei Cup (1650m) at Happy Valley.
Rawiller and Shum teamed up to win Sunday’s (16 October) Class 3 Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Cup (Handicap) with Green Dispatch, and Inventor looks well placed to continue their good run of form.
Inventor has been a revelation since he was stretched out to the extended mile at Happy Valley, winning his last three on the trot, and returned to win first-up at Happy Valley on 21 September. However, the Australian rider believes the horse has taken great benefit for the run.
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t go on with it,” Rawiller said this morning (Tuesday, 18 October). “In his trackwork, I think he’s picked up since his last run, it has helped to switch him on. The horse’s whole demeanour has changed since he’s had that run first-up. Actually, I was concerned first-up off his trackwork, he was not really himself, but he came out and won and he’s picked up in himself since.
“That day, you could see that he was sluggish all race and it was hard work just to get him to the 300m before his ability kicked in and he won. But since that run, he’s stronger again and fitter.
“He’s a beautiful horse to ride, though. He’s a laid-back character, in his trackwork he is quite relaxed. He’s an adaptable horse, that’s why he’s been able to win three in a row and hopefully he can make it four.”
Rawiller has come out of the gates humming this term, his 11 wins putting him in equal second on the jockeys’ championship with Zac Purton and Douglas Whyte. And Shum has been a key supporter of Rawiller, the duo teaming up for five winners from 20 rides this season.
“It’s been terrific, Danny’s been a great support, but I feel like I’m getting support in general from a wide range of trainers,” he said. “It’s showing up in my form too. I have a couple of nice rides for Danny tomorrow night, Presidentparamount also, so hopefully we can continue our run.”
Inventor (128lb) meets a strong 10-horse field for the class, including consistent types A Beautiful (114lb) and Team Sweet (114lb), as well as intriguing first-starter Dinozzo (124lb), with the race scheduled as the fifth event at 9:15pm.
A race earlier, Rawiller’s compatriot Brett Prebble believes Love Chunghwa (125lb) can break through for his first Hong Kong win in the Class 4 Kam Shan Handicap (1200m) after catching the eye with a second to Who’sthedude on 28 September.
“He ran really good first-up,” Prebble said. “The horse that beat us looks a Class 3 horse, he was a little unlucky because Joao (Moreira) had the drop on us and was superior but he ran really well. He’s a horse that looks ready to win soon.”
“He’s always shown that he had some ability but his form has been patchy. But he’s always had some finishing speed and that may come into play here.”
The action kicks off at Happy Valley with the Class 5 Tai Lam Chung Handicap (1000m) at 7.15pm.
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Photo 1:
Inventor wins his seasonal reappearance last start with Nash Rawiller on board.
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