‘Nash took some shortcuts’: Masterful Rawiller out-Thinks them all on giant-killer

Nash Rawiller took control of the Verry Elleegant Stakes before the race, during it and after winning the group 1 feature on Think It Over at Randwick on Saturday.

Before the race, the master tactician went out and walked the Randwick straight. The track had been downgraded from a good 4 to a soft 5 after the fourth race, and he had a plan in mind to upset punters and $1.30 favourite, Fangirl.

Nash Rawiller salutes as Think It Over holds off Fangirl in the Verry Elleegant Stakes.

But it is one thing to have a cunning plan – Rawiller still needed the horse to execute it, and the always underestimated Think It Over did the rest, just as he did in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes a couple of years ago.

“I went out and walked the inside section before the race because I felt it was being underused,” Rawiller said.

“I asked Zac Lloyd after the last race what it was like down the side and he said his wasn’t a wet-tracker but it didn’t miss a beat.

“The track was perfect for him. He wouldn’t want it any wetter and he was there for me when I needed him.

“If he was with Gai [Waterhouse] or Chris [Waller] he’d probably be rated the second-best horse in the country, but he’s a horse that flies under the radar being trained there at Kembla [by Kerry Parker].

“They go the extra yard to have him turn up to the races in good order, and that is why he was able to do what he’s done today.”

Rawiller and trainer Kerry Parker celebrate.

Rawiller camped behind the speed set by Just Fine and switched to the inside on the home turn as the rest of the field fanned to the centre of the track. The move saved a couple of lengths and he hit the front at the top of the straight.

Meanwhile, Fangirl was under a little pressure coming to the turn at the rear of the field. James McDonald set out on the widest run but was giving up five lengths at the 300m and could not run down the winner.

Think About It ($8.50) was in full flight and Fangirl ($1.30) could only get to within three-quarters of a length, with Lindermann ($14) another 1¾ lengths back in third.

“Everyone thinks he’s a giant-killer; just think he’s a giant,” Parker said.

“Nash took some shortcuts. I’m sure that helped at the end, but he really bounced off his first-up run and I was looking forward to the challenge today.”

But Rawiller wasn’t finished being on centre stage. At the presentation, where speeches are no more these days, the champion hoop took the microphone to make sure everyone was aware what a job Parker had done with the eight-year-old to bring him back from a tendon injury in the past two years.

“I just want to pay homage to Kerry and his team for what they have done with this horse,” Rawiller told the Randwick crowd.

“There have been some ups and down with him in the past couple of years, but they have him at his best when he comes to these races.

“They have done an incredible job and deserve this, like the horse.”

The damp ground probably played against Fangirl, who was brave but beaten by the better horse on the day.

“She made a good surge into the race. The track was deteriorating through the day, which didn’t help her,” McDonald said. “She ran bravely.”

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