"Never easy": Why Nash Rawiller won't ride Private Eye in Supernova

Nash Rawiller has formed an excellent partnership with Group 1 winner Private Eye, especially in the last year, riding the brown in seven of his last eight starts.

In fact, throughout the eight-year-old’s successful career, Rawiller has been aboard the gelding on 14 different races.

However, the 71-time Group 1 winner has also formed a recent partnership with the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts.

The hoop has ridden the six-year-old to two wins from his last three starts and a second-place finish.

Both these horses are racing on Saturday, but in different states – Private Eye will be running in Victoria, while Gringotts races in New South Wales.

Rawiller made the difficult decision to stick with Gringotts, rather than his old mate on Saturday, as the Maher-trained bay will be riding in the $2 million Ingham.

“Yeah, (it was difficult), but I guess these sort of thing happens,” Rawiller told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“I mean, Willie Pike had the same situation with me on Saturday - that's how I ended up on Watch Me Rock. But, yeah, it's never easy.

“Gringotts has given me two great wins up here (in Sydney), and he's in a $2 million race on Saturday, but my old mate's going to a million-dollar race down there (in Melbourne).

“It's never easy (to make that decision). I wish they were a week apart, that's for sure.”

Despite not being able to ride Private Eye on Saturday in The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham, Rawiller has given one of his favourite horses a real push to win the Notable race.

“I think (1400m is his sweet spot), yeah,” the jockey admitted.

“I was trying to win on him over 1000m a couple of times 18 months ago and he just couldn't get it. He didn't have the speed in his legs to make his own luck and be that little bit dominant.

“Whereas getting to seven furlongs, he can put himself right in the speed and travel well and give a good kick.

“You know with those sorts of older horses when they're in that situation they build a lot more confidence in the run and he never lets you down when you go for him. He’s a great horse.

“Here To Shock would be the one to beat, I’d imagine, but Private Eye on his day is an old campaigner who is pretty hard to beat.”

Private Eye is currently $2.25 to win the Supernova with Sportsbet, while Here To Shock is at $6.

Gringotts is the $2.90 favourite to win The Ingham with Nash Rawiller on board.

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Odds correct when published at 1:50pm on December 9.