Looking after the grandchildren may have stopped Gai Waterhouse from attending another Warrnambool May Carnival but it did not stop her from having a presence.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Teofilo Star took out the George Taylor Memorial Maiden Hurdle (3200m) on Tuesday to give the stable another victory at three-day meeting.
Sent out the $2.10 betr favourite under Campbell Rawiller, Teofilo Star recorded an easy eight length win from The Rattlin’ Bog ($5.50) with Duke Of Bedford ($8.50) a short-neck away third.
Rawiller, a son of champion jockey Nash Rawiller, is a newcomer to jumping ranks but is the grandson of Keith Rawiller who was a leading rider over jumps in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Teofilo Star was only Rawiller’s third ride over jumps after starting his new career at Pakenham on April 16 with a win on Circle The Sun for champion jumps trainer Eric Musgrove.
Rawiller, who also continues to ride on the flat, said his family were his biggest supporters.
“I’m so fortunate to have such good people behind me,” Rawiller said.
“I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for them. I’m so happy to get the job done here today.
“I’ve been very fortunate that it has been going so well. There’s a lot of highs and lows in it, but if I stay levelheaded, keep working hard, it will come.”
Rawiller said Waterhouse was firm in her instructions about the way Teofilo Star was to be ridden.
“She wanted the horse leading today and it just worked out nicely as we got a few soft sections there,” Rawiller said.
“He looks around a little bit in front which worked in his favour because he settled really well.
“Once I wanted him to ramp it up, which he did coming to the second last, he really responded and he was just too good on the flat.
“He was well prepared by the Waterhouse/Bott team.”
