The Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership race that promised so much is effectively over two meetings out from the final curtain with Nash Rawiller a late withdrawal from Saturday’s Randwick meeting.

Racing NSW stewards on Friday announced that Rawiller would not be fit to take his place at the meeting where his rides including leading fancies Dr Evil (Race 3) and Boston Rocks (Race 5), leaving James Mcdonald with a premiership-winning lead.

“Please note jockey Nash Rawiller will not be riding at the Royal Randwick race meeting on Saturday 27th July, due to illness,” Stewards announced via X on Friday morning.

It will be the second metropolitan meeting in a row that Rawiller has missed after being ruled out of Wednesday’s Canterbury card due to suspension.

McDonald did not add to his season’s tally on Wednesday but heads to Randwick on 86 winners, five clear of Rawiller with next Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting the only other Sydney metropolitan meeting before the season concludes on July 31.

McDonald is expected to add to his winner’s tally at Randwick, where seven of his eight rides are favourite with the other on the second line of betting.

It will be sixth year in a row that McDonald has been crowned Sydney’s premier rider.

James McDonald’s Randwick rides

Race 1: Tarpaulin ($1.90)
Race 3: Green Shadows ($5)
Race 4: Mascaret ($3.50)
Race 6: Tijuana ($3)
Race 7: Fleetwood ($2.15)
Race 8: Kerguelen ($2.25)
Race 9: Awash ($2.90)
Race 10: Sequestered ($2.40)