Trainer Jason McLachlan believes the return of jockey Brad Rawiller will be a plus in Phelan Ready's bid to claim the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.McLachlan was disappointed with Phelan Ready's performance when the gelding resumed for his first start as a three-year-old to finish third in the Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill eight days ago.Phelan Ready joined a long list of Golden Slipper winners to fail in their comebacks although his performance to finish one length behind d
Trainer Jason McLachlan believes the return of jockey Brad Rawiller will be a plus in Phelan Ready's bid to claim the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.
McLachlan was disappointed with Phelan Ready's performance when the gelding resumed for his first start as a three-year-old to finish third in the Group Two Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill eight days ago.
Phelan Ready joined a long list of Golden Slipper winners to fail in their comebacks although his performance to finish one length behind dead-heaters Kroner and Mentality was a first class trial for Saturday's 1400-metre Group One feature.
Chris Munce rode Phelan Ready in the Premiere Stakes when the gelding proved a handful and was shuffled back through the field in the early stages.
McLachlan has been a big fan of Rawiller and convinced his late father, trainer Bruce McLachlan, to book him for the Golden Slipper which the pair duly won at Rosehill in April.
"I'm a massive fan of Brad Rawiller," McLachlan said.
"We're good mates and I've known him since I first took horses away to Melbourne for Dad many years ago.
"Brad was always going to ride Phelan Ready in the Golden Rose.
"The only reason he didn't ride him in the Premiere Stakes was because he couldn't make the weight."
McLachlan will give Phelan Ready his final serious gallop for the Golden Rose on Tuesday but hasn't contemplated removing blinkers from the son of More Than Ready.
"He'll work fast this week on Tuesday morning and his regular work rider in Sydney, Steve Jeffries, will partner him," McLachlan said.
"The horse has done terrific and has improved enormously since his last run and I'm expecting a much better performance from him this time.
"Taking his blinkers off has never crossed my mind.
"He's worn them all his life and won the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper with them so I don't see any reason to take them off."
Phelan Ready will head to Melbourne following the Golden Rose to tackle the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
"He's heading to Melbourne after this run and will start in the Guineas Prelude and then the Caulfield Guineas," McLachlan said.
McLachlan may have been feeling dejected after Phelan Ready's defeat last start but his spirits were high later that night when the sprinter was crowned Queensland's Horse Of The Year.
McLachlan and his father, who died suddenly in June, also took out Queensland's trainer of the year honours.
The pair started training in partnership at the start of last season and had instant success winning the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper with Phelan Ready.