Jason Collett salutes the judge aboard Bello ahead of Nash Rawiller on Laser Hawk, right, in the Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: The Daily Telegraph
NASH Rawiller's autumn carnival campaign suffered a fresh setback last night after he received yet another careless riding suspension.
Rawiller, who returned to the saddle for the first time yesterday after a five-meeting suspension, landed in hot water for his ride on Laser Hawk in the feature Newcastle Newmarket (1400m).
Laser Hawk ($11) was deemed to have shifted in on top of race favourite Mahisara 50m out from the winning post. Rawiller and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Laser Hawk were eventually pipped at the post by the Peter Snowden-trained Bello.
Rawiller was not impressed by the grilling, and at one stage grabbed a piece of paper and held it up to the TV in the stewards' room to illustrate how much he had shifted in.
When he quickly realised his argument wasn't going to hold up, he tossed the paper in the bin, threw his hands in the air and said: "I'm guilty."
The latest four-meeting punishment means Rawiller will be free to ride More Joyous in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and Coolmore Classic favourite Steps In Time on Saturday, but will miss Saturday week's Rosehill Guineas meeting.
Rawiller told stewards Laser Hawk had a tendency to lay in and Mahisara, ridden by Craig Williams, had not been helped by a shift from the inside by Robyn Freeman-Key's mount Famous Seamus.
Freeman-Key also received a one-meeting suspension.
"My horse was laying in, that's obvious, and approaching the 50m mark I made contact with Craig Williams on two occasions, and while I probably put him off stride I don't feel that there was interference," Rawiller said.
Steward Marc Van Gestel asked Rawiller: "Are you displaying the action of a rider encouraging his horse to go forward and win the race, or pull off?"
An angry Rawiller then fired back: "What am I supposed to do, stop riding, pull off and give Craig (Williams) more room?"
Rawiller missed most of the start of the year with an ankle injury. Not long after kicking home a few winners, he was ousted by stewards at a midweek meeting in Newcastle.
While Rawiller left the provincial track disappointed for a second successive time, rival hoop Jason Collett had reason to smile when he steered Bello to Newmarket glory.
Collett had been dumped from his mount Little Miss Rose not long after the gates opened in the previous race, but dusted himself off to punch Bello along the rails.
"He's in form, had a good draw and a few things in his favour today," Collett said.
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