Rawiller and Waller give Lindermann ($9) a chance. Waller noted that Lindermann was the quickest of his six stars in exhibition gallops last Saturday and said he was “going to be hard to beat”.
“First and second up, there’s his chance to beat the better ones,” said Waller, who believed the Ranvet was Lindermann’s “type of race”.
Fangirl (pink colours), winning the Apollo Stakes last year from Lindermann, left.Credit: Getty Images
He said Rawiller was the “leader” in setting up Lindermann’s plan of bypassing the Cox Plate and other top races in the spring to focus on the autumn.
Now Rawiller felt Lindermann may be in better shape than he was this time last year.
“That’s exciting to think,” he said.
“I thought the second trial was beautiful, and he just does what he does there the other day in the exhibition gallop. He just runs quicker time than you think, he just does it so easy.
“He was under a nice hold and he gave me a great feel, and I think he showed he’s come on from the trial and he’s ready for a first-up tilt.”
Rawiller rode Lindermann to his sole group 1 victory, three years ago in the Rosehill Guineas, and has built a strong bond with the winner of $4 million.
“He’s just a horse that never lets you down,” he said.
“He’s run a few bad ones on rain-affected tracks, but aside from that, he just gives you his heart and soul. He’s going to make his own luck, he’s going to be in the first three.
“If they go mad, he’s sitting two off them, and if he leads by two, he’s probably going quicker than most horses would. He’s got a high cruising speed that I like to use on him and that’s his strength. I think that’s why I’ve got on so well with him.”
The spotlight, though, will firmly be on Autumn Glow as she looks to take her perfect record to nine.
“She’s forward enough to win, but she’s only going to improve with the run and she’s the real deal,” Waller said of his resuming Golden Eagle winner.
He said Aeliana had returned bigger and stronger after a hit-and-miss spring and labelled her “my biggest concern” when it came to maintaining Autumn Glow’s streak on Saturday.
Rawiller links with Lady Shenandoah and Savvy Hallie for the first time in other features.
Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah returns in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Brad Widdup’s Savvy Hallie looms as the main threat to Apocalyptic in the Light Fingers (1200m).
Lady Shenandoah has had two quiet trials and put in the slowest of the six exhibition gallops last Saturday, but Rawiller was backing her to fire from gate one.
“She’s always performed first-up, she’s drawn a lovely gate to leave her alone early and just use her blistering finish when the gaps come,” he said.
“I’m really excited about riding her. She’s a very high-class mare on her day and Chris isn’t one to really unleash the shackles before taking them to the races, so who knows? She could have come back better than ever and that’s probably what her form suggests she might.
“Savvy Hallie is another one I’m excited to pick up the ride on. Her form is impeccable and she’s got a run under her belt.”
