It means he will not be able to partner Silent Achiever in Saturday's A$400,000 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, but, more importantly, it takes in the mare's next Melbourne Cup lead-up in the Turnbull Stakes.
Roger James has engaged Damien Oliver for the Turnbull, but is saying: "Nothing is set in concrete, I'm taking it one race at a time."
But the winds of change are in the air. "Damien is on the mare in her next two starts and if he happened to strike gold with her, it might be very difficult to take him off."
Rawiller's thoughts are perhaps best portrayed by his comments in the press that he is interested in travelling down from his Hong Kong contract if the right Melbourne spring rides are available. He clearly means if Silent Achiever is not available suitable replacements are being offered.
Silent Achiever gets a great opportunity to regain winning form in Saturday's Underwood.
She looked good in finishing close up behind the placegetters in the
Memsie and will love the extra distance this time.
Nash Rawiller's thoughts on Damien Oliver replacing him on Silent Achiever - if that happens - would be interesting.
As Gai Waterhouse's No 1 jockey he was partnering Fiorente early last spring, but was sacked in favour of Oliver, who went on to win the Melbourne Cup on the European import.
Meanwhile Wayne Marshment's focus will be on group one business at Hastings on Saturday, but he will also be keeping a close watch on proceedings at Caulfield.
The Wanganui trainer's good-quality mare O'Fille looms as a strong chance in the Windsor Park Plate and a stable connection will ensure interest in the Underwood Stakes across the Tasman.
The weight-for-age feature will mark the second spring appearance of The Offer, the Gai Waterhouse-trained stayer who is the favourite for this year's Melbourne Cup.
"I've got a really smart 3-year-old colt by Keeper called Lord Beaver, who is out of a half-sister to The Offer," Marshment said yesterday.
However, Marshment's immediate focus is resting with O'Fille, who resumed on an encouraging note when a close sixth in the Makfi Challenge Stakes last month.
"She was really good on the first day and Noel Harris said a couple more strides and she would have been right in it - he was thrilled with the mare," he said.
"I'm very happy as well and she has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since the first day. Her work on Tuesday morning was very good."
One of O'Fille's rivals on Saturday, Pure Champion, gave an excellent account of himself in his New Zealand debut and he hasn't missed a beat since, according to co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan.
A group three winner in his native Ireland and twice at that level in Hong Kong, the 8-year-old finished a solid third in the Makfi. "He's done really well and Andrew Scott rides him in 90 per cent of his work and he said he's bouncing around and right on his toes."
- Additional reporting, NZ Racing Desk.
