Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Leading jockey Nash Rawiller is hoping barrier one provides a smooth passage for well bred colt Geo to begin a rise through the grades at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Samantha Miss found himself in all sorts of bother in a small field on the Kensington track back on December 18 but earned Rawiller’s praise for being able to overcome adversity.

He returns to the Kensington track in the Sky Racing Active Handicap (1300m) in a race with more depth and on Thursday was on the second line of betting at $5 with TAB.

“Last time he did a good job to overcome a few things in the run,’’ Rawiller said.

“He was caught three wide on the speed and I had to make them quicken up inside me to get back in. I finally found cover and got into a nice rhythm and one came around before straightening and put me in a pocket.

“At the same time I didn't want to go because I'd just got him into his rhythm so I had to wait until the run came and he quickened well.

Geo wins at Kensington on December 18

“With the run we had early I thought if we pulled out before the corner we were going to be vulnerable so he did a good job.’’

Geo, trained by Kris Lees, produced a sizzling final 200m of 11.31 (Punter’s Intelligence) when he did get clear and that was two lengths faster than any of his rivals.

Rawiller isn’t concerned about the colt potentially running into trouble from the inside barrier and it’s worth noting he’s drawn wide in both starts to date and he did race on the speed at 1300m at his debut.

“I can ride him where he's happy a bit more. I'll take barrier one every week,’’ Rawiller said.

While Geo was able to work his way out of trouble to win last start Rawiller, who leads the Sydney premiership on 40 wins, has been on the receiving end of misfortune on the Chris Waller-trained Word For Word twice in the past month.

He’s hoping that can change in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1550m) as the mare attempts to snap a run of being a beaten favourite at her last four starts.

The four-year-old was badly strung up for a run when beaten half a length by Handspun at Rosehill on December 7 then two weeks later Rawiller said a bumping duel early in the straight may have been the difference as she was gobbled up late by Asharani.

“One came around and she had to bustle her way out a little bit after straightening and it probably cost her in the end,’’ Rawiller said of that last start second to Asharani, who opposes her again on Saturday.

Word For Word's only win to date, though, came on the Kensington track over 1300m back in April and she is once again the popular elect at $2.50 with TAB (as at Thursday).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kensington meeting at Randwick