The winner of eight of his nine starts, the imposing four-year-old steps up to Group Two company for the first time in the 1200m feature with a fitness edge on most of his rivals.

Rain Affair won the Carrington Stakes on January 2 after which Joe Pride decided not to run him again in January on tracks he deemed much too hard.

The gelding was kept up to the mark during his few weeks off and a seven-length barrier trial win last week showed he was on target for his next assignment.

A dramatic turn in the weather has ensured there will not be a repeat on Saturday of the rock-hard surface that distressed Pride and with two of Rain Affair’s wins on heavy ground, Pride’s confidence is sky high.

“He is a tough horse and he is in for a big preparation,” Pride said.

“I think he has got a bit of a head start on his opposition.

“I wouldn’t want to be tackling a field of this quality first-up so having that run under his belt helps and he’s a horse that improves with racing.”

The Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight next month is just one of the Group One options Pride has in mind for Rain Affair.

The 15 nominations for the Expressway include Group One winners Rangirangdoo, Shoot Out, Manawanui, Sniper’s Bullet, Danleigh, Eagle Falls and the Pride-trained Sacred Choice.

The winner of the 2011 Doncaster, Sacred Choice will be an acceptor for the Expressway with the promise of a soft track.

“She will have a similar campaign to last year heading to the Doncaster,” Pride said.

“She trialled well and is right to go.”

Sacred Choice won the 2010 Myer Classic on a heavy track at Flemington and last spring put in her best run of the preparation when second to Hurtle Myrtle in the same race.

Her Doncaster win was also on heavy and although she has four wins on good, she excels in the wet.

Manawanui is increasingly more likely to be saved for the Royal Sovereign Stakes on February 18 while Eagle Falls will run at Caulfield.

Ron Leemon, trainer of Manawanui who won a barrier trial on Tuesday morning, said he had missed two pieces of work due to last week’s deluge which forced the cancellation of racing at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Jockey Glyn Schofield will then have to decide whether to partner Hay List in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week or stay in Sydney to maintain his association with Manawanui.

AAP TURF

Skitter is going for her fourth straight win when she comes to town for the first time for the Patinack Farm Hcp (1200m) following victories at Stony Creek, Cranbourne and Geelong last month.

“This is what we should be doing. It’s taken a while but I’ve just got the horses up and running now,” Harrison said.

“You need to have them coming through and it’s been really good.

“They’ve just been going around the bush mainly. I’m getting a nice little team together.”

Harrison has engaged in-form apprentice Katelyn Mallyon for her first race ride aboard Skitter who likes to lead and has drawn well in barrier one in the 11-horse field.

Mallyon’s three-kilogram metropolitan allowance brings the mare in with 55.5kg, 1.5kg above the limit weight.

Skitter, a four-year-old by Stravinsky out of the Marscay mare Almaz, is from the same family as WATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Sanhedrin’s Pride, Ipswich Eye Liner Stakes winner Rancho Miss and SAJC Liz Davenport Classic winner Calming.

She has had eight starts, all for Harrison, and finished fourth four times and fifth once from her first five starts before hitting a purple patch of form.

“She came over from New Zealand to me. Her breeders sent her over to me to try and win a race here with her,” Harrison said.

“She showed ability. Her head carriage was everywhere and we just had to work on her a bit but she can really gallop.”

Harrison has been experimenting with a few gear changes on Skitter, who races in an off-side blinker, and has added pacifiers for the first time on Wednesday.

Skitter has led at her last six starts but it wasn’t until her sixth start that she broke through in a Stony Creek Maiden (1100m) on a slow track on January 9.

She followed that up with a three-length win in a Cranbourne Class 1 (1200m) on January 22 and backed up three days later to win a Showcase Fillies and Mares 0-68 Hcp (1400m) at Geelong.

The Harrison stable has saddled up three runners so far this month and all have finished runner-up – It’s Crunch Time at Sandown last Wednesday, Neptune Express at Morphettville last Saturday and Cosentino at Sale on Sunday.

AAP TURF

Heathcote will continue his association with jockey Paul Hammersley on Gondola Girl who will have her first start since late September in Wednesday’s SITA Australia Handicap (1110m).

Gondola Girl, a daughter of Thorn Park, is a half-sister to multiple Group One winner Show A Heart who has gone on to be highly-successful sire.

“She’s been in work long enough and has done well and is ready for her return,” Heathcote said.

“This distance is probably short of her best first-up but she’ll be very competitive.

“She’ll never be a Show A Heart but we’re hoping she can go on this campaign and win a Saturday race which will boost her stud value.”

Gondola Girl, a three-time winner in 21 starts, has not raced since finishing seventh in a 1400-metre Class 3 at Caloundra on September 25.

Heathcote resists having a stable rider and prefers to spread his rides among several jockeys.

“Jim Byrne currently does the bulk of my riding but I don’t have a stable rider as such,” Heathcote said.

As well as Byrne, Heathcote has been using Damian Browne, Glen Colless and Hammersley to do his riding in recent times.

“Paul has got a few rides again for me tomorrow and he has no problems with his weight,” Heathcote said.

“He’s a quality jockey and I rate him in the top half-dozen riders in the state.”

Heathcote had Gondola Girl nominated for Eagle Farm last week but scratched her on race morning when the track was heavy.

“I only got back from the sales in New Zealand last Wednesday and I didn’t expect the track to improve so much as it did during the day,” he said.

Heathcote has seven runners engaged at Doomben and rates Gondola Girl and Starlistic in the Carlton Mid Handicap (1350m) as the pick of them.

“I think they all have each-way chances but Gondola Girl and Starlistic are probably my best hopes,” he said.

Starlistic, a Byrne mount, broke through for her maiden victory at Eagle Farm in December before going down less than a length when fourth in a Class 3 at Doomben on January 4.

At her last appearance, the four-year-old finished well for third in a 1200-metre Class 2 at Ipswich on January 20.

AAP TURF

After riding the mare in her final serious gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, Nolen said Black Caviar was ready for her first test at 1400m in Saturday’s CF Orr Stakes.

“She is absolutely first class,” Nolen said.

Black Caviar will be attempting to record her 18th win from as many starts in Saturday’s race, the first in which she has been asked to run beyond 1200m.

But Nolen dismissed any concerns.

“She’ll be as effective, if not more, at 1400,” he said.

“I can’t see any reason why anybody should be worried about it.

“She went for a little spin this morning and she’ll be perfect for Saturday.”

Nolen also expressed confidence in Black Caviar taking on the world, possibly in Dubai next month, saying he would be ready to ride her wherever she raced.

“She could be going around the backyard pulling a cart and I’d be there with her,” he said.

While Black Caviar is again the feature sprinter of the autumn carnival, the star stayer of the season is also on track.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, who has remained in Australia since last year’s Cup, is due to resume racing in next month’s Australian Cup at Flemington.

But stable representative Stephanie Nigge said the horse would only run if the track suited.

“The plan is for him to run in the Australian Cup and then to go to Sydney for the BMW,” Nigge said.

“But if the track is too firm at Flemington he will go straight to Sydney and run in the Ranvet Stakes.”

Nigge, who has been involved with Americain throughout the horse’s career in France, has remained with him since his Australian owners decided to keep him in this country until he retires.

The pair has been together at David Hayes’ new Lindsay Park training complex at Euroa for the past two months.

Nigge said the horse had been on a “working holiday” since winning the Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown last November.

“He has had a half-spell,” Nigge said.

“He goes to the paddock every day but he also works every day.”

AAP TURF

McEvoy has been suspended since after the Australia Day meeting at Caulfield and will be back in the saddle at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

He’ll then partner impressive debut winner Applegate in the fillies Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) and also Rusambo in the colts and geldings division.

McEvoy has also picked up the ride on the Bart Cummings-trained import Illo in Saturday’s Group One CF Orr Stakes (1400m) against champion Black Caviar.

The Peter Snowden-trained Applegate hasn’t started since scoring an impressive Melbourne Cup day win in the Listed Emirates Plate (1000m) on November 1.

Rusambo raced twice in Sydney early in the season, finishing third in the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on debut and then second to Amorino over the same course and distance two weeks later on October 15.

McEvoy said they were nice rides to come back to after his careless riding suspension.

“I’ve been keeping busy riding trackwork and trials so my fitness is good,” McEvoy said.

“I’m looking forward to getting back later in the week.”

Before the Moonee Valley Friday night meeting, McEvoy is due to put star colt Sepoy through his paces at Flemington in a jumpout.

Applegate is on the second line of TAB Sportsbet betting for the Blue Diamond Stakes on February 25 at $8 behind the fillies Blue Diamond Preview winner Malasun at $6.

No Looking Back, Jimando and Saturday’s impressive Caulfield winner Mama’s Choice are also at $8, while Rusambo is at $18.

Malasun and Applegate are both among the 16 nominations for Saturday’s fillies Prelude while the colts and geldings Prelude has 15 nominations.

AAP TURF

Gollan is hopeful Temple Of Boom can continue his great Flemington record in the 1000-metre feature which will also see fellow Queenslander Buffering tackle star sprinters Hay List and three-year-old Foxwedge.

Trainer Jason McLachlan has also nominated Facile Tigre and Phelan Ready for the Lightning Stakes but will give the pair a jumpout at Flemington on Friday before deciding if either will resume in the race.

Foxwedge, runner-up to Sepoy in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in the spring, and Temple Of Boom will also have jumpouts on Friday.

Gollan sounded an ominous warning to his Lightning Stakes rivals by declaring Temple Of Boom has never been in better order.

“He’s settled in well this time, better than any previous occasion he’s been down there,” Gollan said.

“He hasn’t missed a beat and is becoming an old hand at travelling.”

Temple Of Boom, whose only other autumn run in Melbourne will be the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10, will be ridden by Danny Nikolic in the Lightning Stakes.

Temple Of Boom will then head home to Brisbane for the weight-for-age Group Two Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in April but could divert to Sydney on his way back for the Group One The Galaxy if the Randwick track is rain affected.

Gollan is still keeping his options open regarding a trip to Dubai in March with Temple Of Boom.

“He’s nominated for an 1100-metre race in Dubai on March 31 but he’s unlikely to go unless he wins the Lightning or Newmarket,” Gollan said.

Temple Of Boom has an excellent straight course record at Flemington with three wins, a third in the Group Two Salinger Stakes and sixth in the Bobbie Lewis.

The five-year-old has not started since finishing third to Sister Madly in the Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in October.

Meanwhile, McLachlan is looking forward to Facile Tigre and Phelan Ready tackling the plum autumn races.

McLachlan is rapt in both sprinters, particularly Facile Tigre who he feels has come of age this campaign.

Facile Tigre started three times during the spring finishing second at Caulfield in September before winning over 1200 metres at Caulfield in October prior to his victory in the Listed MSS Security Sprint at Flemington in November.

Phelan Ready, winner of the 2009 Magic Millions Classic and Group One Golden Slipper Stakes, started four times in Melbourne last campaign with his best effort a third in the Listed Testa Rossa (1200m) at Caulfield in September.

AAP TURF

Rangirangdoo, Danleigh and new stable acquisition Shoot Out will kick off their campaigns in the 1200m feature while Red Tracer will stay at home to run the following week.

Waller admits he is not sure what to expect from Shoot Out who joined his team late last year from John Wallace’s Gold Coast stable.

“We have taken a soft approach with him and haven’t asked too much of him yet,” Waller said.

“He looks well and his class will take him a long way.

“Rangirangdoo is at about the same stage as Shoot Out and with him it’s just one race at a time.

“Danleigh is the more forward of the three but really I would expect them all to be at their peaks at their third runs.”

Rangirangdoo’s career has been curtailed by injury with the seven-year-old needing almost a year off after his 2010 Doncaster Mile victory.

He came back last autumn to win the Group One George Ryder Stakes but pulled up lame from the race and the Expressway will be his first race since then.

Shoot Out won the 2010 Randwick Guineas and AJC Australian Derby but although he has been competitive, he has not won since he took out the J J Liston in Melbourne in August 2010.

Danleigh won the Chipping Norton Stakes at his third run last autumn and that will be among his Group One aims again.

The Expressway attracted a star studded 15 entries including last year’s winner Centennial Park, Group One winners Eagle Falls, Manawanui, Sacred Choice and Sniper’s Bullet and boom sprinter Rain Affair.

The strength of the field has prompted Toby Edmonds to keep Essington in Queensland to run at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The cancellation of Saturday’s Warwick Farm meeting prompted a reshuffle of the program for Rosehill to accommodate horses heading to the carnival.
Nominations were originally taken for nine races on Monday but a 10th was added with the 29 entries for the 1500 metre open handicap now also forming the nominations for a Benchmark 85 over the same distance.

There are two races for two-year-olds programmed, one over 1100 metres and one over 1200 with several horses nominated for both.

An 11th race could also be added depending on the number of acceptances received on Wednesday for a couple of other races with large nominations.

Meanwhile, the Australian Turf Club’s metropolitan meeting on Wednesday has been moved from Hawkesbury to Kembla Grange.

AAP TURF

Leemon has nominated Manawanui for the Group Two Expressway (1200m) which would avoid a clash of schedules for his regular jockey Glyn Schofield.

But after seeing the nominations the trainer is leaning towards keeping the three-year-old against his own age group in the Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) on February 18.

Schofield is the regular rider of both Hay List and Manawanui but should Manawanui go to the Royal Sovereign at Warwick Farm, the jockey would be forced to make a decision as Hay List is due to resume in the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne on the same day.

Leemon won’t make a decision on an Expressway start until after the Golden Rose winner trials at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with Schofield aboard.

The Expressway attracted 15 nominations including fellow Group One winners Danleigh, Eagle Falls, Rangirangdoo, Sacred Choice, Shoot Out and Sniper’s Bullet.

Rising sprint star Rain Affair is also entered along with the David Payne-trained trio of Master Of Design, Winter King and last year’s Expressway winner Centennial Park.

“Looking at the field at this stage I’m leaning towards going to the Royal Sovereign,” Leemon said.

“The number of entries (in the Expressway) is a bit bigger than I thought and there’s a little bit more quality than I thought.

“I’ll just wait and see how he trials tomorrow but I’m slightly leaning towards the Royal Sovereign at this stage.”

Manawanui became a household name last spring in a six-start preparation which netted almost $1.2 million prizemoney with wins in the Golden Rose (1400m), Stan Fox Stakes (1500m), Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) and The Vase (2040m).

He also finished a gallant second to Helmet in the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and was sixth in his final start of the campaign in the Victoria Derby (2500m).

Manawanui is entered in a 1030m trial at Rosehill.

“He’s going well,” Leemon said.

“He’s still a bit big but the trial will bring him on.”

Group One winners Beaded, Once Were Wild and Stand To Gain are also entered to trial at Rosehill.

Unbeaten three-year-old Moment Of Change is down to trial in the same 900m heat as Hot Snitzel and the Peter Snowden pair of Free Wheeling and Ambidexter, while Breeders Plate-winning two-year-old Pierro is also entered to trial over 900m.

AAP TURF

“I am looking forward to Saturday but obviously he is not going to beat her,” Parnham said.

He said Playing God, tuned up with a barrier trial win at Ascot on Monday, had the St George Stakes (1800m) on February 25 and the Australian Cup (2000m) on March 10 as his premier autumn targets.

“So long as he runs an even race and is working to the line like a miler and middle distance horse should do on Saturday, I will be happy,” Parnham said.

Playing God was sharp in his strong 1000m trial and after sitting outside WA Guineas winner King Saul went home better to score.

Group Two Lee Steere Stakes winner Ranger, who is entered for the Orr but is more likely to start in Saturday’s Carlyon Cup (1600m), was third in the trial.

Only 12 horses are nominated to challenge Black Caviar including Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed.

Bart Cummings-trained stayers Illo and Precedence, along with Lloyd Williams-owned 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient and 2011 Underwood Stakes placegetter winner Midas Touch are also entered.

Black Caviar’s stablemate Doubtful Jack is likely to line up again after being placed twice behind her, including last start when third in the Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27.

Parnham said Playing God would fly to Melbourne on Wednesday morning.

“He had a little bit of a blow after the trial but he recovered very quickly,” Parnham said.

“That will bring him on and he will be ready to go around on Saturday for sure.”

Playing God has won seven of his 22 starts and last autumn was third in both the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) and the Australian Cup.

He was competitive in the spring when third to December Draw in the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) after finishing fourth in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and fifth in the Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Parnham regrets his decision to back Playing God up a week after the Turnbull in the Group One Caulfield Stakes (2000m) which resulted in him finishing sixth and compromising his chances in the Cox Plate where he finished 11th.

“If I had my time over again I wouldn’t have done that, and given him three weeks into the Cox Plate,” Parnham said.

Playing God had four weeks break after winning the Group One Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on December 3 and Parnham is excited about how much more mature the horse is this campaign.

“He has always been a bit back backward but you will find a different horse when you see him this time,” Parnham said.

“With that little bit of time out he seems to be getting stronger and better and I am confident this will be his best year.”

“Where I take him after the Australian Cup is questionable but he may go straight to the paddock because I want to give him a good break before the bringing him back for the spring in Melbourne.”

AAP TURF

Less than two weeks after the stable’s chances appeared to be snuffed out when exciting youngster Sweet Little Lies pulled up shin sore after finishing fourth in a Blue Diamond Preview, Formidable is staking her claim on the $1 million Caulfield feature on February 25.

Owners Barry and Midge Griffiths need to find $55,000 for the late entry and a decision will be made later in the week whether the Strada filly tries to fund the cost by backing up in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Prelude for fillies at Caulfield.

At her only two starts Formidable led all the way to win at Flemington on January 14 and on Saturday was a gallant half length second to debut winner Mama’s Choice who is now $8 equal second favourite for the Diamond with TAB Sportsbet.

“Everything is a bit up in the air at the moment about running Saturday but whether she runs or not I think she is worthy of a start in the Blue Diamond,” Zahra said.

“If there was a Sepoy (last year’s dominant winner) around you probably wouldn’t pay the $55,000 but in every two-year-old race there has been a new winner”.

“We have spoken to Barry about it and it is not often you get a chance to run in the Blue Diamond and I don’t think he has ever had a runner in the race.

“It is a lot of money to pay up but if she can finish in the first three she is stakes-placed, gets the prizemoney and bit later on he can sell her for what ever he wants.”

Zahra said Formidable was her own worst enemy on Saturday when she got running under jockey Chris Symons from the 600 metres when the pace slackened.

“It wasn’t Chris’s fault. She is not an easy horse to ride,” Zahra said.

“She just got going on him and he had to pull out four deep on her.

“He tried to hold her together but she used all that energy from the 600 to the 400 (metres) and she was a bit of a sitting duck late.

“If she could draw a gate in the Diamond she has got to be thereabouts.”

Fillies Blue Diamond Preview winner Malasun is among 13 entries for Saturday’s Prelude.

The colts and geldings Prelude has attracted 12 entries without Preview winner The Travelling Man.

Trainer Matt Laurie said The Travelling Man would have “a soft trial” next week and go in to the Blue Diamond without another run.

“I just don’t think he needs three runs in six weeks,” Laurie said.

“There is only so many runs you can get out of a two-year-old and I don’t want to waste one on something that is not imperative.”

AAP TURF