The premiership battle between defending titleholder James Mcdonald and Nash Rawiller has spilled over into the stewards’ room at Randwick – at least momentarily.
Just three wins separated the pair heading into Wednesday’s midweek meeting and it took until the sixth race for one of them to get on the board, Rawiller getting everything out of Little Cointreau to deny the fast-finishing Yasuke by a long head with James McDonald’s mount Nanshe ($3.60) another half-neck away third.
But it was an incident 100m before the finishing line that became the post-race talking point, Nanshe becoming the meat in the sandwich when she was squeezed out of a run between Little Cointreau to her outside and the tiring Zoukerino to her inside, forcing McDonald to check severely.
Sydney’s leading hoop fired in a protest against Rawiller aboard the winner, but after watching the stewards’ head-on footage, it became apparent most of the interference came from Zoukerino and McDonald withdrew the objection.
However, Rawiller’s bid to eat into McDonald’s lead was just as short-lived, the latter responding to his rival’s challenge by booting home West Of Africa ($3 betting fav) for Annabel Neasham in the final event to re-establish his three-win margin.
Rawiller’s mount Magnatear ($4.80) was third.
“It’s not over yet,” McDonald said.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do, but we’re going alright.”
Wednesday’s Kensington-track meeting was McDonald’s first back in the saddle since June 26.
The top jockey was stood down from riding that day and later hospitalised due to gall stones, opening the door for Rawiller to mount a serious title challenge.
While the two hoops might otherwise be enjoying a winter break if not for the lure of a premiership, their rivalry is spicing up the racing fare for everybody else, including Neasham.
“I think James had a bit of an over-exaggerated look over his shoulder there (on West Of Africa) with a bit of cheek, but two great jockeys battling it out,” Neasham said.
“I’m glad there that James has gone ahead because it was winning on one of our horses, but it will be a good battle until the end of the season.”
McDonald has won seven Sydney jockeys’ title, the past five in a row, while Rawiller has won it three times, most recently in 2012-13.
