Mark Minervini is banking on the renowned horsemanship of Nash Rawiller to help extract the best from budding stallion Meritable when the pair team up at Rosehill.
Group 1 placed in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas at three, Meritable hasn’t quite gone on with the job in his handful of starts since arriving in Australia almost two years ago.
However, he turned in his best performance for some time when runner-up to Dragonstone in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at his first appearance for Minervini in December, before finishing down the track behind Noble Soldier last time out.
The horse heads into the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday with a month’s break between runs and combined with the booking of Rawiller, Minervini hopes it is a winning formula.
“I think the older horses with a bit of a mind, Nash might be the right man for the job,” Minervini said.
“He seems to be able to get the best out of horses that other guys can’t, so I’m hoping it’s the right move, but the proof will be in the pudding on Saturday.”
Meritable is raced by New Zealander Colin Wightman, who bought the entire with the plan of standing him in his homeland to serve his group of broodmares.
The timing of the acquisition wasn’t right for a career change last season, so having seen Minervini’s success with tried horses such as stakes winner Hosier, Wightman sent Meritable to the Newcastle-based trainer.
“He bought him to stand on the South Island of New Zealand. Incredibly, there are no sons of Snitzel there and Colin has got a broodmare band of his own, maybe fifteen or twenty mares, so his intention is to use him,” Minervini said.
“It was too late in the season to retire last year, so at this stage he will go to stud this season.
“Hopefully he can win a race or two in Sydney which would cap off his resume.”
Minervini also confirmed that Premier’s Cup winner Hosier was back in pre-training and would be set for an autumn carnival campaign with the Doncaster Mile his goal.