Young jumps jockey Campbell Rawiller continued his rapid ascension through the ranks with a stellar ride aboard Circle The Sun to win the Australian Hurdle.
Saunter Boy, the 73kg top weight trying to win a third-straight Australian Hurdle, loomed ominously at the penultimate obstacle but handicap and “gluey” surface took its toll over the concluding stages.
The champion hurdler finished fourth, beaten 9.5 lengths.
Circle The Sun dominated the Australian Hurdle from the outset and never looked back, victorious by six lengths from San Remo and Blandford Lad.
“It’s a dream come true. I would never had said six months ago I’d be on a horse like Circle The Sun in an Australian Hurdle with a good chance, I would never have thought it,” Rawiller said.
“He put them away so dominantly, these are your proper benchmark jumps horses in Victoria and credit to Saunter Boy, he carried a lot of weight today.”
Campbell Rawiller with trainer Eric Musgrave after riding Circle The Sun to win the Ladbrokes Australian Hurdle Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
Rawiller, who toasted a Sandown double with victory in the race prior on progressive Teofilo Star, has won six jumps races from only 14 starts over obstacles, including three with Circle The Sun.
The five-year-old gelding gave Rawiller his first ever win over fences and they combined again to win the Champion Novice Hurdle at Warrnambool earlier in the month.
“I can’t believe how well things are going at the moment, I’m so fortunate to have such good mentors,” Rawiller said.
“A big thank you to everyone involved in the ownership, it’s a cracking crew of people and everyone loves jumps racing and Circle The Sun, long live it, it’s the best sport in the world.”
Rawiller kept a close eye on Saunter Boy in the run, as the champion stalked the leader and eventual winner for much of the race, mindful of the brilliance of Steven ‘the Professor’ Pateman.
“I noticed he was quite close to me up the straight the first time around and I was just more being cautious not to let him get the chance to kick up my inside,” Rawiller said.
“I was having a couple looks to my inside, making sure ‘the Professor’ wasn’t up to any Professor moves, so I had to be on the ball the whole away around.”
Circle The Sun gave champion trainer Eric Musgrove a quartet of Australian Hurdles following the successes of Our Aristocrat (2011), Karasi (2004) and Blue Star (2002).
Circle The Sun handed Eric Musgrove a fourth Australian Hurdle triumph at Sandown on Sunday Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
“He’s a lovely horse and Campbell gave him a great ride, I couldn’t wish for any better,” Musgrove said.
“He’s only young and he’s got a fair way to go but he’s done everything right.”
Earlier on the card, Tolemac won the Australian Steeplechase (3900m) by 12 lengths.
Eventual runner-up Riding High, which won the 2021 edition, led up the seven-horse but could not match motors with Symon Wilde-trained Tolemac, which ploughed through the rain-affected ground.
“This horse is really good on soft ground, he showed a good turn of foot at Warrnambool and that was a really good display,” Wilde said.
“I thought Will (Gordon) put him in the race at the right time, it was really good … a slow tempo, no weight, the track softer than I thought, it all worked out really well for him.”
The Australian Steeplechase has been kind to Wilde previously, with Britannicus (2022) and Gold Medals (2017) on the honour roll.
Wilde will aim to plot a path for Toelmac towards the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) on August 27 at Ballarat, however, wet ground is the key to any future plans.