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By Ray Hickson

The level of confidence front-running galloper Lindermann is showing jockey Nash Rawiller this campaign gives him an inkling the six-year-old could still climb to greater heights.

Nash Rawiller and Lindermann (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Rawiller knows his way around a warhorse and he can see shades of former star Think It Over in the Chris Waller-trained gelding. If he’s right that’s a decent rap.

Think It Over notched a Group 1 win in the 2021 George Ryder and was competitive against the A-graders in the spring that year until his trainer Kerry Parker elected to come back a notch and he won three straight.

The next autumn he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with that famous Rawiller ride down the outside fence.

Lindermann won his Group 1 in the Rosehill Guineas as a three-year-old and he’s out to emulate Think It Over’s deeds of 2021, when he was also a six-year-old, by following a Hill Stakes win with back-to-back victories in the Group 3 $750,000 Cincotta Chemist Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“I remember Kerry Parker did a similar thing with Think It Over, he ran in all these races in the spring and came back in the autumn a bigger, stronger, more confident horse,’’ Rawiller said.

“Hopefully that’s what can happen with Lindermann.

“He’s proven to be half length off the best of them at certain times.

“If we can get that half length out of him through getting that confidence up, and not being pitted against the best every run like he has been in other preparations, it might hold him in good stead for next year.”

The gelding’s only kryptonite is a wet track and since the sun has taken over Lindermann, $1.60 with TAB on Wednesday, has been racing in the sort of form Rawiller hasn’t seen before.

He fended off Sir Delius to win the Chelmsford Stakes second-up then had Fangirl beaten everywhere but on the line in the 7 Stakes before he made light work of a wide barrier to win the Hill Stakes (1900m) two weeks ago.

“It’s been a good confidence building preparation for him, he’s been able to win that couple and just got touched off by Fangirl,’’ he said.

“I just think Chris has placed him beautifully.

“Fangirl on her day, there’s probably none better over a mile. When you’re running her to a short half head it shows how well he’s going.

“I think he’s the ultimate racehorse, he’s had to be pitted against the best of them quite often and if you’ve got a slight chink in your armour you get found out. I think he’s gone to a new level now he’s really matured.”

Rawiller won’t have to worry about a wide barrier in the Craven Plate, he’ll jump from two in a seven horse field, but that didn’t bother him bit as he turned the Hill Stakes into a one horse race.

The horse had his biggest pay day with the $1.15 million taking his prizemoney to over $3.6 million, and another win on Saturday would move his earnings past $4 million.

“I did a fair bit of work but I just rode the horse,’’ Rawiller said.

“I just blocked out what was going on inside me for a bit and concentrated on him getting the first part of the race right.

“Once the tempo came out of it a bit he was able to roll around them and get into the lovely rhythm he does. He got a couple of cheap sectionals for 400m and was able to start building from there.

Lindermann wins the Hill Stakes

“I don’t think there were too many excuses for the horses behind him, he’s in that rich vein of form and it was good to get it right in a big race.”

Nash Rawiller on Grand Eagle (race 5): “He hasn’t done anything wrong so far this prep. I think he will appreciate getting back to Randwick where the track just has that bit more cushion in it. Hopefully the set up of the race allows me to get home over the top of them.”

On Shangri La Boy (race 8): “He’s been making his own luck up on the speed and showing a good kick. I’m looking forward to that race, it’s another step up again but he’s proven that he’s deserved of his opportunity. The talk from the stable is the 2000m won’t be too much of an ask for him.”

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