Latest News

By Ray Hickson

There was no hesitation from trainer Mark Minervini to take on board advice from champion jockey Nash Rawiller about his next move with consistent mare Diamond Model and that move is to head back to Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Mark Minervini (Pic: Steve Hart)

After a first-up placing there, the four-year-old has recorded two seconds at Canterbury and following the latest Rawiller suggested to the Newcastle trainer the tight inner-west track was working against her style.

Diamond Model was a scratching from last week’s Randwick meeting but Minervini said Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1300m) is exactly the race he was looking for and is buoyed by the hoop wanting to stick solid.

“The 1300m around Rosehill is where Nash indicated is where we should go so we’ve taken his lead,’’ he said.

“All things being equal she should be hard to knock off.

“I said to his manager he’s told us where to run her and we’ve found the race and he said yep Nash will definitely ride her.

“Nash thought Canterbury was a bit tight, she’s a big striding mare. We had her in at Randwick last week at 1400m but we drew the outside so I thought we’d wait for Rosehill.”

Rawiller of course is in a high profile battle with James McDonald for the Sydney Jockeys Premiership, sitting three wins shy after both rode one winner midweek.

Diamond Model, $6 with TAB on Thursday behind McDonald’s mount Silvanito, has been placed in five of her seven starts since joining Minervini from the Phillip Stokes stable.

He said a wide barrier isn’t a major concern for the mare and is happy to back Rawiller’s steering.

“In town she’s been knocking on the door but hasn’t been able to strike a blow yet,’’ he said.

“I think it’s only a matter of time, her two runs at Canterbury this time and her run at Rosehill have been really good.

“Last start I thought she’d be lucky to run fourth but she launched late and got up to run second.

“I think it wouldn’t matter if she was three deep with a bit of cover early. She’s pretty versatile, depending on how Nash wants to play it. I’d say she will be balancing up and running home.”

Minervini wanted an inside barrier for Quick Tempo in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) and he got his wish when the gelding drew three.

He said that will allow Jason Collett to settle the honest sprinter a bit more forward than when he came from the last to run fourth behind Mnementh in the June Stakes six weeks ago.

“He normally runs well fresh so we’ve deliberately freshened him up for the race,’’ he said.

“He had a fortnight on the water walker, his gallop on Tuesday was outstanding. If he can be a little bit closer he can be right in the finish.

“I’ll leave it up to Jason, he knows the horse really well.”

Dehorned Unicorn has his third run for Minervini in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m) but will have to contend with a tricky draw.

Star Ambition wins at Sunshine Coast on June 16

Formerly with Joe Pride, the gelding showed improvement second-up at Randwick behind One Destiny and an improving track would be in his favour.

“I thought his last run was pretty good, I’d imagine he will continue to improve through the prep,’’ he said.

“I’ve been really happy with his work, he’s really sharp.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting