Rawiller hopes ‘flip of the coin’ falls his way with Lindermann in 7 Stakes

4 hours ago 2

By Craig Kerry

September 18, 2025 — 4.53pm

Nash Rawiller concedes it was a “flip of the coin” decision to ride Lindermann or Private Eye, two of his favourite horses of recent times, in the $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Now he just hopes Lindermann can come up “heads” again after his resurgent win last start in the group 2 Chelmsford Stakes.

Nash Rawiller rides Lindermann (left) to victory in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.

Rawiller was rewarded for his loyalty to Lindermann when the $11 shot led and kicked strongly before holding off Sir Delius. It was the six-year-old’s first win in 11 months and came after three starts where he finished down the track.

The champion jockey has also been aboard Private Eye, which started his eight-year-old season with victory in the group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes, followed by a second in the group 2 Tramway Stakes.

Rawiller believes little separates the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann and Joe Pride-prepared Private Eye, and both will improve off their most recent runs. Lindermann is an $8.50 (Sportsbet) chance from gate eight. Private Eye, with Adam Hyeronimus aboard from barrier nine, has firmed into $7.50.

“To be honest, I was having that much trouble with it, I was flipping a coin and sort of heads Lindermann and tails Private Eye, and it was just, boom, straight on heads,” Rawiller said with a grin.

Nash Rawiller and Private Eye dominate the PB Lawrence first up Caulfield.

“I think they’re both going great. I thought Private Eye ran as well as Lindermann last time and I probably felt, if anything, him being second up, he’ll improve more next time.

“But at the same time, Lindermann’s just been fantastic his whole career to me. I’ve won a group 1 on him and when he bounced back like he did the other day, it was pretty tough to get off him.”

Both face a tougher task on Saturday against a field led by Waller star Fangirl ($2.60), Pride’s Ceolwulf ($5), the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts ($6) and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-prepared Royal Patronage ($6.50).

Rawiller, though, expects Lindermann to lift again.

Fangirl (pink colours), pictured winning the Apollo Stakes at Randwick in February, will start favourite in the $1 million 7 Stakes on Saturday.

“He had me worried because I felt he was just giving up too quick on those heavy tracks; normally, he puts in a bit more for you,” he said.

“But I had a chat with Chris and I asked him to just keep a real good eye on him for the next two weeks at home and make sure he’s happy with him properly. I think he may have even been picked over by the vet. Two weeks later, everyone was rapt with him.

“And I felt, off that win, he could just really get his confidence back and he might have a two-length improvement in him.”

Rawiller has also picked up the ride on the Gary Portelli-trained Queen Of Clubs ($10) for the group 2 Tea Rose Stakes. James McDonald, who is on Tupakara ($3.60), rode her last start when third in the Silver Shadow Stakes on heavy going.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s come back well and trialled really well,” Rawiller said.

“I gave her a trial the other day at Rosehill and I actually rode in a gallop with her at Warwick Farm one day. She’s really come up well.

“I wouldn’t say Saturday’s a grand final, but it’s a good stepping stone to a better race later on. She’ll be very competitive Saturday, no doubt.”

Pride, meanwhile, had no regrets about stretching Private Eye out in distance and not chasing a fourth consecutive Everest start. Five slots remain for the $20 million race on October 18.

“I thought he was a better chance of picking up prizemoney in some of these second-tier races, and he’s managed to run a first and second,” Pride said.

“He goes up in class again on Saturday, but it’s worth a go, and I’ve got a lot of options with him. I thought the Everest – he’s had three cracks at it and run two ripping races for second and third – but I thought that was enough, and I don’t think they’ll beat that Hong Kong horse [Ka Ying Rising].”

He expects Ceolwulf to bounce back from a fourth in the Chelmsford Stakes when the odds-on favourite.

“There were excuses the way the race was run, but also I think he was back at the races too soon after a first-up run on a heavy,” he said.

“On the day he was really quiet, which is unusual for him. He’s normally a feisty horse in the yard. I’d expect him to be like that on Saturday, and he should bounce back.”

He said Headley Grange would race in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Friday instead of the Bill Ritchie at Randwick. Pride is chasing a ticket into the Big Dance, “but I haven’t given up on the Epsom with him”.

As for stable addition El Castello, Pride said the four-year-old would trial on Friday and go straight to the Epsom Handicap where Andrew Adkins will ride. The group 1 winner, formerly with Anthony Cummings, returned from 10 months out with a fetlock injury with an encouraging fourth in the Theo Marks Stakes last Saturday.