Rawiller keen on Taiyoo's Ballarat Cup chances

And he’d know.

The leading jockey has ridden four of the past six cup winners – including last year aboard Chris Waller-trained Junoob – and is set to partner Darren Weir’s stayer Taiyoo in this year’s race.

That 2015 success followed wins aboard My Bentley (2010), Domesky (2011) and King Diamond (2012).

Rawiller isn’t 100 per cent sure if he will be riding in Ballarat on Saturday, November 19, but said it is more than likely he’ll be at the meeting he has enjoyed plenty of joy at in recent years.

And if he is, Taiyoo is likely to be his mount in the $300,000 feature.

“He’s got to be a terrific chance,” Rawiller, a key stable rider for the Weir stable, said.

“His third at the Valley (Moonee Valley) was really good and sort of said he was coming back into form because it was off probably a couple of disappointing runs for him.

“And the way he sort of went through the line the other day (in winning the Kyneton Cup) – we were struggling at the 600m and once we straightened and then he was able to balance up – his last 150m was terrific.

“Then going to Ballarat, on a bigger track, as well as an extra couple hundred metres, will only better suit him.”

Rawiller said the main concern is what weight Taiyoo would receive from the handicapper in the Ballarat Cup.

The seven-year-old was in brilliant form during the summer of 2015-16, where he won seven of nine starts and was a narrow second in the group 2 Adelaide Cup.

In total, Taiyoo has won 14 of his 39 runs for close to $700,000 in prizemoney.

“Him at his best was probably still a little bit better than what he was at Kyneton, but he definitely had improved again from Moonee Valley, so hopefully he can make as much improvement into the Ballarat Cup,” Rawiller said.

Rawiller was in Ballarat on Thursday to ride in the Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic trials.