The result of Nash Rawiller’s first ride on Fiumicino has fuelled his confidence of making it back-to-back victories on the veteran.
Rawiller is adamant the nine-year-old still has plenty of petrol left for Saturday’s Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill, having claimed his first win for three-and-a-half years in the ATC Cup.
His previous victory had been in the Group One BMW in 2009.
On that occasion he was ridden by champion jockey Darren Beadman who recently announced his retirement due to head injuries suffered in a fall in Hong Kong in February.
Rawiller had consulted the champion hoop for advice about Fiumicino prior to his last start success.
“I did ring Darren for advice on him (Fiumicino) because he rode him to victory in the BMW,” Rawiller said.
Fiumicino controlled the tempo of the ATC Cup and is likely to try to adapt similar tactics this time having drawn barrier nine in a field of 10.
“At Warwick Farm he was able to carry the big weight and fight them all off and the main thing to come out of it was that he felt terrific in his action,” Rawiller said.
“Obviously he seems to be racing in great heart at the moment.”
Rawiller said the gelding definitely didn’t feel like a nine-year-old that would be closing in on the end of his career.
“He felt like he was just peaking and showed no signs of carrying anything wrong with him,” the jockey said.
“He felt like a six-year-old.”
The wide barrier for Fiumicino in the Christmas Cup wasn’t a major concern for his jockey.
“He drew the outside gate last start and was able to overcome that,” Rawiller said.
“We’ll just roll forward again.
“It looks a good race for him and the 2400m will be no problems.”
King Utah finished second to Fiumicino last start but trainer Wayne Wilkes’ hopes for a good barrier draw were not realised with the stayer coming up with the outside gate.
Fiumicino is being shaded for favouritism in the Christmas Cup by Cantonese who is set to back-up after his close fourth to Scream Machine at Rosehill last Saturday.
Cantonese was $3.60 with TAB fixed odds on Wednesday ahead of Fiumicino ($4) and the Chris Waller-trained Moriarty ($4.60).
