Victorian jockey in action at Cairns carnival

By Garry Dell

Victorian jockey Campbell Rawiller has picked up two rides for Cairns Newmarket feature day on Saturday.

The 23-year-old is the son of Group 1-winning rider Nash.

He had been planning a holiday in North Queensland and has been snapped up by local trainers Alwyn Bailey and Roy Chillemi.

He will ride for Bailey and progressive gelding Crowning Moment for Chillemi.

The versatile jockey has been combining flat and jumps race riding since finishing his apprenticeship and rising weight has restricted his engagements in flat races.

Rawiller suffered a shoulder injury in a fall in a Warrnambool jumps race in April and has battled hard to regain strength and fitness.

"I'm all okay now and really putting my head down to get back into the swing of things," Rawiller said.

"I had planned to come up to Cairns for a holiday and rang around a few trainers for possible rides over the carnival which ended up with two for Saturday and four for next week's Cup day.

"I arrived earlier this week and was pleasantly surprised with the weather.

"I am quite excited about Saturday and next week and meeting a few of the jockey fraternity up here as well as owners and trainers to add another bow to my career."

Rawiller will be based in Adelaide after his northern trip and said he would be interested in riding during the Cairns Amateurs if things work out.

"Dad is a regular visitor to Queensland for the winter carnival and he said I'd enjoy myself in the warmer weather which I'm really looking forward to," Rawiller said. 

"The ball's in my court and I'm excited about the possibility of riding a winner or two and seeing some of the area's tourist attractions."

Meanwhile, apprentice jockey Claire Ramsbotham will join Queensland's fly-in-fly-out band when she comes up for a full book of Cup rides at Bowen's Cup meeting on Saturday. 

Ramsbotham will ride Deel With Me for trainer Jennifer Hatfield in the Cup over 1470 metres with rides in the other four races to acquaint herself with the Bowen circuit.

The 21-year-old is apprenticed to Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn has had 28 rides for two wins in her career which began in May.

She has been riding in races south of the border until recently heading to at Yeppoon.

"I've been keen to get to country meetings in Queensland and I rang around and picked up a full book," Ramsbotham said.

"I fly up and Joshua Manzelmann will drive me there as I'm riding one of his horses. It will be something new for me as I haven't been further north than Yeppoon yet. 

"Hopefully I can pick up a winner or even two would be great and get me noticed by trainers up that way. I enjoy working at Matt Dunn's stables where has up to 90 in work and I ride about 10 or so in the morning and then the usual stable chores.

"I'm loving the weather, having lived in Victoria growing up and starting my working career in stables in Sydney."

Ramsbotham has a four-kilogram claim and can ride at 54kg.

"I'll probably get a bit lighter with race riding and travelling - my partner and former jockey Brodie Loy is a great help as a mentor," Ramsbotham said. 

"Hopefully this will be the first of many trips north as I further my career."