Treloar Out, Rawiller In, Seamer Next for Bel Esprit

Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00

Talented Victorian hoop Nash Rawiller will ride brilliant Melbourne colt Bel Esprit in his return to the track in Saturday's Mitchell McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley.

But his stint on the colt will be short lived as he will have no chance of riding the three-year-old at his next start in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in September.

A new rider was required for Bel Esprit in Saturday's race at Moonee Valley after his regular rider Wayne Treloar lost an appeal against a one month suspension today.

Bel Esprit's trainer John Symons said the owners of the Blue Diamond Stakes winner chose to reward Rawiller for the fact he will be riding the colt in a track gallop at Moonee Valley tomorrow.

"Nash will be riding him in his gallop tomorrow morning," Symons said. "And the owners felt he deserved the chance to ride him on Saturday."

But with the Group One Manikato Stakes being a weight-for-age event both Rawiller and Treloar, who's suspension ends on the eve of the Melbourne's first Group One race of the season, will be unable to ride Bel Esprit. The colt will be asked to carry just 51 kilograms in the Manikato.

"Scotty (Seamer) will probably ride him in the Manikato at this stage," Symons added.

It is understood owners opted for Seamer ahead of the natural lightweight Steven King. A renowned big race jockey, with international experience, King has linked in recent weeks with Macedon Lady, one of the other shining prospects with a seemingly terrific spring in store.

Treloar was suspended after he used a sauna at the Caulfield Racecourse without the required accreditation. He had told the sauna supervisor he was fellow rider Peter Mertens and then signed in as that rider when using the sauna before riding.

The board today heard an appeal by Treloar against the severity of the sentence, but it was dismissed and his deposit was forfeited.

Treloar's suspension begins at midnight tonight and expires at midnight on Wednesday September 11, three days before the Manikato.

PICS - Quentin Lang.