Rawiller on standby for Cliff’s Edge mount

Brad Rawiller is on standby to ride C S Hayes Stakes favourite Cliff’s Edge if John Allen is unsuccessful in an appeal against the severity of a careless riding suspension.

Allen’s appeal before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will be heard on Thursday morning.

Allen was supsended for nine meetings after pleading guilty to careless riding aboard Goldstream in a race at Caulfield last Saturday.

He needs two meetings shaved off the penalty on appeal to be free to ride Cliff’s Edge in Saturday’s Group Three CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington.

Allen won the Group Three Manfred Stakes (1200m) on the Darren Weir-trained three-year-old last Saturday week in the colt’s return from a spell and Saturday’s CS Hayes Stakes is an important lead-up to the Group One Australian Guineas two weeks later.

Cliff’s Edge is the $5 favourite for the C S Hayes Stakes on Wednesday and has drawn barrier 13 in a capacity field of 16 plus two emergencies.

The Weir stable have told stewards Rawiller will ride Cliff’s Edge if Allen’s appeal is unsuccessful.

Weir has two leading chances in the race with Cliff’s Edge’s stablemate Peaceful State at $5.50 on Wednesday after a narrow-but-impressive win first-up at Sandown a week ago.

The race will also feature the Australian debut of New Zealand Group One-winning colt Embellish who has drawn the inside barrier and will be ridden by Opie Bosson.