Nash Rawiller back on home soil for Bendigo Cup tilt

As a child he never missed the big day and dreamed of one day winning the Cup as a jockey.

In 2000 he realised that dream when he won the Cup aboard Yammer for Mornington trainer Tony Noonan.

Among all his Group One wins around the world, Bendigo Cup day 2006 still holds a special place in his career.

Nash and siblings Brad and Stacey all rode winners on Cup day.

"I still have the photo of the three of us that day on the wall at home,'' Nash said on Monday.

"That was a great day for the family."

Cup day on Wednesday will mark another special Bendigo meeting for Nash, who will ride in his hometown Cup for the first time in six years.

His 18-year-old son Campbell, an up-and-coming apprentice who won Saturday's St Arnaud Cup, is riding at his first Bendigo Cup meeting.

It will be the first time Nash, Brad and Campbell will ride at the same meeting.

"Whether or not the three of us can all ride winners we'll have to wait and see, but it will be a special day for us,'' Nash said.

Nash tried to get rides in the same races as Campbell in an attempt to ride against his son for the first time, but it didn't work out.

Campbell, has three rides on Wednesday, while Nash's only ride is in the Cup.

"It will be good to walk the track together on Wednesday,'' Nash said of Campbell.

"Campbell has seen plenty of the track, so there's probably not much I need to tell him.

"He's had a great grounding and he's had a great start to his career. He's doing a terrific job."

Nash would love to win the Bendigo Cup with his son watching on.

"It's hard to believe it's nearly been 20 years since I won the Bendigo Cup,'' Nash said.

"Campbell wasn't even born when I won the race. Time has flown."

Nash will partner the Chris Waller-trained Patrick Erin in the Group Three $400,000 feature.

"I'm really looking forward to Wednesday.. it's been a while since I've ridden in the race,'' Rawiller said.

"Hopefully, Patrick Erin is the right sort of horse for the race.

"I'm hoping he can run up to his best. He's shown inklings of his best form this preparation, but he hasn't put it together.

"Hopefully, the big track at Bendigo, and the good track, will suit him and he'll get his chance to wind up and show what he's made of."

Patrick Erin is rated a $14 chance in early markets for the Cup.

Punters expect the international raiders to continue their winning run after English stayer Raheen House was supported from $6 to $5 favourite in early betting.

The Waller-trained Brimham Rocks is second favourite at $6.50 ahead of Sully ($7) and Top of The Range ($7).

Bendigo has two local runners in the full field of 16 for the Cup.

The Nick Smart-trained Single Handed is a $31 shot, while the Josh Julius-trained Super Girl is an $81 outsider.

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