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Michael Cox

Rhythm is the key for Japanese-trained Hana's Goal in the Group Two Jockey Club Mile and it is as well for her jockey Nash Rawiller.
The Australian-owned mare and Rawiller have had less than smooth preparations leading into the Mile, with the jockey frustrated by suspensions.
Rawiller reunites with Hana's Goal at Sha Tin on Sunday for the first time since a spectacular April win in the All-Aged Stakes in Australia, where she showed a tremendous turn of foot to rocket past a Group One field at the Randwick track.
The 39-year-old Australian jockey has since spent plenty of time on the sidelines.
His start in Hong Kong was delayed by a month-long ban incurred in Japan, before more trouble here and another charge in his homeland saw his ban extended to last night's Happy Valley meeting.
This long absence means Rawiller will have not ridden in his new base for nearly one month when he returns, and has only competed at six of the 19 meetings this season.

He resumes in Australia tomorrow, riding in a Group One in Perth, but is looking forward to Sunday when he is reunited with a horse on which he has had a perfect one-from-one record.
"I've got a fair bit of confidence in her; she is a high-class mare," he said. "She has a great turn of foot, but you have to get her comfortable and in rhythm for her to show her best.
"It's been hard for me watching from the sidelines, I've just tried to keep positive and I've had to have a think about things. You can't be competitive as a jockey if you aren't riding, so staying out of trouble is a priority for me - the rest will take care of itself."
It is necessity as much as opportunity that convinced 39-year-old expat Australian owner Michael Tabart to take his horse overseas, first to Australia and then for this campaign built on next month's Hong Kong Mile.

	She is a high-class mare. She has a great turn of foot, but you have to get her comfortable and in rhythm for her to show her best

	Nash Rawiller 
"If you want to win a Group One in Japan, it is very difficult. You get one shot every six months, and you face a full field of 18 every time," said Tabart, who was not in Australia for the Group One win, but will be at the track this weekend.
Tabart came to Japan as a student in 1993, stayed to work as an accountant and now finds himself the owner of a Group One winner who he plans to add to his growing band of brood mares and send to unbeaten racetrack star, and now sought-after sire, Frankel.
"That's the aim, I just need to keep enough of the prize money, so I can afford it," Tabart said.
Stud plans are not on the agenda just yet, though, and if the five-year-old meets expectations in both races, she could become the first overseas-trained horse to take advantage of the relaxed restrictions on outsiders contesting certain Group Ones, with January's Stewards' Cup on the agenda.
First, Hana's Goal needs to get things right in her next two races, which Tabart explains is an art for the rider. "She has to have things her own way and when they do go her way, she has beaten some very good horses," he said.
"But it's hard to find a jockey who will get her to settle. Nash knows how to ride her. If you push her even once during the race, she will overdo it. She has one amazing 400m sprint, but you can only use it once.
"We thought she would show more in her last start, in the Sprinters Stakes, but the jockey was anxious to get into a forward position on a leaders' track and she ran up the back of horses."
Hana's Goal endured a nightmare trip to Australia - "She went crazy on the plane," Tabart said - but improved in condition Down Under and then won third-up.
But the mare has reportedly travelled better this time and should be more competitive first-up. "She lost around 15kg and she has settled in much better at Sha Tin," Tabart said.


Nash Rawiller and Hana's Goal looking to find winning rhythm for Jockey Club Mile

Hana's Goal in action at Sha Tin. Photo: Kenneth Chan

Jockey Nash Rawiller has only been able to ride in trials and trackwork during his ban, but he will reunite with Hana's Goal on Sunday. Photo: Kenneth Chan 

Japanese-trained mare Hana's Goal has a gallop on the all- weather track at Sha Tin ahead of Sunday's race. Photo: Kenneth Chan 

Sport

Australian jockey knows how to get the most out of mare as they reunite at Sha Tin


Nash Rawiller and Hana's Goal looking to find winning rhythm for Jockey Club Mile

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Australian jockey knows how to get the most out of mare as they reunite at Sha Tin

Australian jockey knows how to get the most out of mare as they reunite at Sha Tin