Heavyweight Victorian jockey Brad Rawiller emerged from his brother Nash’s shadow to become the toast of racing when he produced a brilliant ride to win the Queensland Derby on Brambles.
Rawiller made the most of a rare opportunity to ride for champion trainer Peter Moody in a big race and the lanky hoop turned in one of the great Derby rides to lead throughout on Brambles.
Rawiller’s elder brother Nash is the leading Group One rider this season but today in front of the big Eagle Farm crowd it was his little brother’s time to shine.
Brambles started the well-supported $3.40 favourite on the back of his last-start all-the-way-win win in the Grand Prix Stakes and Rawiller delivered a mirror performance when he allowed the gelding to stride to the front and left enough in reserve for the run to the line.
“Geez he’s a tough horse,” Rawiller said.
“That was a terrific effort, I was worried about the 300 metres when the others came at him but he lifted and was so strong to the line.
“That was a tough Derby, it was a strong field and he came up trumps – he’s a very good stayer with a lot of class.”
Brambles looked as though he could be overhauled when Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential ($8) loomed at the 200m but he packed too many guns and held the filly at bay by 1-1/4 lengths.
Victorian Westsouthwest ($7.50) produced a tip-top performance when he ran on late to finish a long head back third with the Gai-Waterhouse-trained Tohunga ($16), ridden by Nash Rawiller, fourth and Moody’s other runner Vatuvei ($6) fifth.
It was Moody’s second win in the Group One Classic after he prepared Riva San to win in 2008 and the former Brisbane boy handed all the plaudits to Rawiller.
“What a great ride by Brad it was,” Moody said.
“I left it up to him and didn’t tie him down with instructions and he rode him a treat.
“Brad learned a while back that he gets more out of the horse when he doesn’t fight him.
“This horse is a tough, no-frills stayer. He’s climbed another mountain by winning this race.
“He was getting tired near the line but he was entitled to and the others were all off the bit chasing him.
“I’ll let the dust settle and enjoy the moment and we’ll worry about the spring when the spring arrives.”
