Nash Rawiller and Gai Waterhouse came out to play early on Chipping Norton Stakes day with King Lionheart bringing up a winning treble for the jockey and a double for the trainer in the opening three races.
Rawiller started the day in great fashion with victory on the John O’Shea-trained two-year-old Foxwedge in the Clarry Conners Plate (1100m) and then backed it up with wins on the Waterhouse-trained New Day Rising and then King Lionheart.
It was a statement of intent from the top trainer-jockey combination.
“It’s a great start, hopefully I can keep it going,” Rawiller said after King Lionheart kicked clear in the straight to win the Alconex Fire Handicap (2200m).
Waterhouse was also delighted to bag an early double.
“I came to conquer and I’m going to keep going,” Waterhouse said.
Rawiller controlled the tempo on the improving King Lionheart and despite being pestered in front during the run, the four-year-old kicked away on straightening and held a two-length advantage over Shawnee Girl on the line.
The Warrior Woman was another length away third.
Waterhouse praised Rawiller’s handling of King Lionheart who brought up his fourth win at just his ninth start.
“Wasn’t it funny today, they kept throwing horses at him,” Waterhouse said.
“Firstly Jimmy (Cassidy on The Warrior Woman) got on his hammer and then he went a bit further and he dropped off. Then another one came up in the pink (Shawnee Girl) and attacked him and Nash just kept going that steady pace the whole way.
“That was the lovely thing about it.”
Rawiller believes King Lionheart is showing potential as a stayer.
“It’s taken a while for the penny to drop but he appreciated getting to that trip,” Rawiller said.
Earlier, New Day Rising led all the way to win the Liverpool Leader Handicap (1600m) by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s been a slow maturer and is one of the few horses I have that has a sway-back,” Waterhouse said.
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