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The win by Ballarat-trained gelding Hire A Beau in the Mortlake Cup at Camperdown on June 10 came at a spectacular cost.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Hire A Beau had to avoid a fallen horse on the home turn but after passing the winning post added to the drama when he took charge of jockey Brad Rawiller and made for the gap where the horses come onto the track.
Rawiller jumped to safety as the Darren Weir-trained Hire A Beau crashed through the outside fence, somersaulted, regained his feet and charged through another fence.
Rawiller was unhurt but Hire A Beau didn’t escape unscathed as he suffered leg wounds and a cut shoulder that required stitching.
The action started on the home turn when Sensational Toy fell but Rawiller was able to avoid the fallen horse on the favourite Hire A Beau and directed him to the outside section of the track in search of the better going.
Rawiller said he could sense trouble when Hire A Beau headed for the track entrance just after passing the post two lengths in front.
"I jumped out of the way before he got in trouble,' Rawiller said.
"He went over the outside fence, somersaulted and landed before he went through another fence and cut his leg.'
"I just decided to get off before I got to the point of no return."
Hire A Beau completed a winning double the Weir stable as Rawiller had also been successful on stablemate Very Superstitious.
Rawiller finished the day with a treble after also winning the final race on Good Red on top of three minor placings to cap a big long weekend.
He also won a race at Moonee Valley on the Saturday and Sunday's $50,000 Swan Hill Cup on Corowa-trained veteran Regal Hawk for trainer Geoff Duryea.
"It's been a great couple of days," Rawiller said.
