Jockey Brad Rawiller is hopeful Avienus can rebound from her Railway Stakes disappointment and give him his third Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.
Rawiller, who won the feature twice on the David Hayes-trained in Niconero in 2006 and 2008, says he expects Avienus will be at her top on Saturday.
Trained by Mark Webb, Avienus didn’t travel well to Perth and took several days to recover before finishing a seven-length 10th to Luckygray when ridden by Craig Williams in the Group One Railway Stakes on November 19.
Rawiller regains the mount this weekend after partnering her in three Melbourne spring runs.
He finished second on her to Descarado in last month’s Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and was second last on her in the Cox Plate, in which she was badly checked.
He also rode her earlier this month when she stormed home from last to finish fourth to Vintedge in the Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Rawiller said that the 1800m Kingston Town was always going to be a better a race for Avienus than the 1600m Railway.
“She was trained for a mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) and the race this week over 1800 metres was always going to be her best chance,” Rawiller said.
“She will be primed for it and I’m happy to be on her.”
Avienus is looking to break a losing run of more than year after her last success in the Group Two Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in September 2010.
AAP TURF
