Racing: Cassidy, Rawiller riding kings as veterans shine at Sydney carnival

Jim Cassidy and Nash Rawiller emerged as the most successful group one riders of the Sydney autumn carnival, with Gai Waterhouse leading the trainers' ranks.

All three claimed three group one races each over a bumper few weeks which produced some new stars.

But none shone brighter than the older brigade, led by the seemingly ageless Takeover Target whose TJ Smith Stakes win was one for the ages as his 9-year-old legs carried Rawiller to a record-breaking victory.

That heavyweight rider Rawiller was on the champion at all was a surprise after regular partner Jay Ford was dropped with trainer Joe Janiak concerned about Takeover Target carrying too much dead weight.

Rawiller was thrilled for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It was a privilege to ride him, I was just a passenger out there," he said.

If Takeover Target's win was easy, Typhoon Tracy's Coolmore success was just as impressive while Onemorenomore was emphatic in the Champagne Stakes.

Three-year-old Typhoon Tracy went into the Coolmore unbeaten from four starts and dominated from the outset, while Onemorenomore gave big-spending owner Nathan Tinkler his first group one winner from the yearlings he purchased in 2008.

Although Rawiller felt for Ford over the TJ Smith riding change, he himself had experienced a similar disappointment early in the carnival.

He was dropped from Golden Slipper favourite More Joyous with Darren Beadman called back from Hong Kong to ride the filly.

Rawiller rode Waterhouse stablemate Manhattan Rain in the Slipper to finish third with More Joyous out of the placings.

At 46, Cassidy has won every major race on the Australian calendar but showed he was not about to rest on his laurels with the George Ryder-Doncaster double on Vision And Power and the AJC Australian Derby aboard Roman Emperor.

The evergreen Bart Cummings trains Roman Emperor while fellow octogenarian Jack Denham reminded everyone he is still a force with Metal Bender claiming two group one victories.

- AAP