Drawcard sprinter Rain Affair will need a rain-affected track if he is to continue his chase for a breakthrough Group One win in Sydney.
Trainer Joe Pride said Sydney’s weather, which took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, held the key to a start – and possible clash with unbeaten filly Atlantic Jewel – in the Group One All Aged Stakes.
Pride has Rain Affair heading towards the weight-for-age sprint at Randwick on Saturday week on the proviso he strikes a soft track.
The sprinter excels on rain-affected ground and Pride greeted Tuesday’s rain – and the forecast of more to come – with mixed feelings.
“The rain has come a week late for him but what do you do,” Pride said.
Rain Affair’s bid for a maiden Group One was denied by a late surge from Master Of Design in last week’s TJ Smith Stakes.
The $1 million sprint was run in sizzling time on a firm but fair track and Pride is adamant he won’t run Rain Affair in the All Aged if similar conditions prevail.
Pride’s Group One aspirations for Rain Affair will be held over to the Queensland winter carnival if Sydney’s weather doesn’t play its part.
“He’ll press on to the All Aged only if it is wet,” Pride said.
“I wouldn’t want to be running him on a dry track.
“I want to take the horse to Brisbane and I don’t want to jeopardise that by giving him an extra run here on an unsuitable track.”
Pride said the possibility of Atlantic Jewel running in the $400,000 race also made him wary.
“I don’t want to be taking her on on a dry track,” he said.
Atlantic Jewel enhanced her reputation as an elite racehorse with a resounding return to racing in the Sapphire Stakes.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh will decide between the All Aged and the Group Two Emancipation Stakes on the same day as the three-year-old’s next Sydney run.
Pride wants Rain Affair to lead the way for his winter carnival stable.
“Hopefully I will have a strong team up in Brisbane this year,” he said.
“The Sydney carnival has been pretty good but we haven’t won a Group One yet so hopefully Brisbane can make up for that.”
