Champion jockey brad Rawiller, and his wife Carolyn, welcomed their first child last week, daughter Cleo Kate, who was conceived using IVF. Cleo Rawiller was due to arrive tomorrow, Melbourne Cup Day, and because she came a week early, Brad will be free to ride in the Melbourne Cup. However, this will only happen if his brother Nash loses his appeal against his suspension; if Nash’s bid fails, then Brad will take his place on American horse Unusual Suspect.
Brad was distraught when doctors told him the strict diet he maintains as a jockey to keep his weight down had left him sterile. Wanting a baby more than anything, he and Carolyn took a month-long holiday to improve his health before undertaking treatment at a Melbourne fertility clinic. Carolyn was pregnant much sooner than expected, and becoming a father is the happiest moment of Brad’s life.
(Story and photo from The Daily Telegraph, October 31 2011)
UPDATE: Was just watching the evening news, and it was announced that Nash Rawiller had lost his final appeal and will not be racing tomorrow. His brother Brad will be riding Unusual Suspect in his place.
UPDATE (November 1): Unusual Suspect came in 9th during the Melbourne Cup.
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Cleo Kate is so cute
Cleo Kate is unbelievably adorable as a name! Simplicity up against a less simple surname! (Is it Rah-willer or Ray-willer?)
I thought it was cute too – only from hearing the name on the news did I learn it’s said more like ruh-WILL-er, emphasis on the second syllable and the first syllable sort of slurred/shortened. Good idea making her first name so easy to spell and say! 🙂