Speed machine Rain Affair lit up the Warwick Farm track at Tuesday’s barrier trials in his pipe-opener to Saturday week’s Expressway Stakes.
Rain Affair clocked a slick 46.1 seconds in the 800 metre trial as he raced to a seven-length winning margin over Just Another with three lengths to Back On Top in third.
His time was more than a second faster than any of the 13 other 800m heats and 1.7 seconds quicker than the other two open trials.
“He’s a running machine, isn’t he?” trainer Joe Pride said before confirming a start for Rain Affair in the Group Two Expressway Stakes (1200m) on February 11 at Rosehill.
“It was a really good trial and I’m looking forward to taking him to the races next Saturday.”
Rain Affair went quicker than Pride and jockey Corey Brown had planned but the trainer wasn’t concerned as the four-year-old has fitness on his side after resuming with a victory in the Listed Carrington Stakes on January 2.
“It looked like he pulled up really well from the trial,” Pride said.
“He’s just naturally athletic and can do things that most other horses can’t.
“The horse on his inside (Just Another) made him work harder than what we probably would have liked to but he (Rain Affair) is a tough horse and he’s a fit horse.
“If he had a trial like that and he hadn’t had a run yet I would have been pretty disappointed, but because he’s had a run back it won’t hurt him and he’s got eleven days until the Expressway to get over it.”
The trainer gave Rain Affair a break after the Carrington, deciding not to run him again in January while the tracks were hard.
Pride is still undecided where to go after the Expressway, with the Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m) and the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) options.
Pride was also delighted with dual Group One winner Sacred Choice and multiple stakeswinner Neeson who finished second and third respectively in another 800m heat won by Bidden.
“They both looked to trial really well,” Pride said.
Sacred Choice could resume in the Expressway alongside Rain Affair but Pride will only take her there if the track is rain-affected.
“She’ll also be nominated for the trials on Friday week and if I don’t get the track to suit her (in the Expressway) she’ll have another trial and then join in in the Apollo Stakes,” he said.
AAP TURF
