It’s a source of some frustration for trainer Joe Pride that Rain Affair hasn’t been able to showcase his wet track ability in the past 12 months.
Rain Affair is undefeated in six starts on tracks rated in the slow or heavy range but the five-year-old is unlikely to strike those conditions when he lines up in Saturday’s Group One BTC Cup at Eagle Farm.
Rain Affair
Brisbane Racing Club officials have rated the Eagle Farm track a dead 4 with showers forecast leading into Saturday’s meeting.
“It’s out of my hands but if we were to get some rain I’d be more than pleased,” Pride said on Brisbane’s RadioTAB.
The last time Rain Affair struck a wet track was in last year’s Expressway Stakes at Rosehill when he won by four lengths.
Pride was relieved when Rain Affair drew barrier two in the BTC Cup while arch-rival Buffering will start from barrier seven.
“Buffering’s got a long preparation in front of him and if he was to serve it up to my horse to try and get across I’m not sure that would be the desired result for him,” he said.
“My horse goes along at a nice clip and I think every horse will have their chance if that takes place.”
Rain Affair has been described by Pride as an aggressive horse who hates to be overtaken in his races.
At his latest appearance the gelding finished second to All Too Hard in the All Aged Stakes, a race which traditionally hasn’t been much of a guide for the BTC Cup.
The only BTC Cup winner to have used the All Aged Stakes as a lead-up run was Bentley Biscuit in 2007.
Melissa Leitch, stable foreman for trainer Robert Heathcote, said Buffering has improved significantly since his Victory Stakes win on April 27.
“He had a big blow after the race which was expected but on the following Monday you wouldn’t think he’d had a run,” she said.
“Damian said he felt the pinch the last 50 metres that day so there is improvement in him.”
Buffering will attempt to become only the third favourite to win the BTC Cup in the past decade.
Since Falvelon in 2003 only Apache Cat (2008) and Black Caviar (2011) have started favourite and won.
