Sydney’s premier jockey Nash Rawiller wouldn’t be surprised to see Fat Al progress to next year’s AJC Australian Derby after guiding him to a dominant win at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Rawiller rode Hendricus when he defeated Fat Al in the lucrative Inglis Bonus Mile (1600m) at Warwick Farm last Saturday week but jumped aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding for Wednesday’s Inglis Handicap (1900m).
Fat Al started the $1.75 favourite and Rawiller took him to the front from the outset.
After taking the home turn awkwardly, Fat Al powered away in the straight to score by 5-1/4-lengths over Duty Bound with Falklands a long neck away third.
“He’s a lovely horse, it’s just that the penny hasn’t really dropped with him yet,” Rawiller said.
“Neil Paine rides him in his trackwork and I spoke to him this morning and he was adamant he would be a better horse ridden with a sit and given something to chase.
“It’s something he might be able to do later on but today wasn’t the day to do it because there was no pace and I wanted to ride him like he was the best horse in the race.”
Rawiller said with experience the son of Al Maher would be up to better class races next preparation which could include taking aim at the Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
“Quite possibly,” Rawiller said.
“In the autumn that might be his main aim.”
Trainer David Pfieffer has a more immediate goal in mind for three-year-old Safusa who’ll head to the $100,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes (1200m) on December 22.
Safusa began well in Wednesday’s De Bortoli Wines Handicap (1200m) to sit on the speed before racing away to a 1-3/4-length victory over Kernel with Flying Zero third.
The Pfieffer-trained Graceful Anna won the Wyong race two years ago on her to winning the $1 million Magic Millions 3YO Trophy at the Gold Coast.
AAP TURF
