Jim Cassidy and John O’Shea were certainly not complaining as rain belted down at Randwick during trackwork on Tuesday morning.
O’Shea’s Group One hopes on Saturday rest with stakeswinning filly Elite Falls who will line up in the Galaxy (1100m).
The three-year-old turned in a pleasing final hitout on the course proper with Cassidy aboard.
“The more rain the better,” Cassidy said.
“If it pours down I would love it.
“She worked very nicely this morning and I’m very happy with her.
“She’s going as good as ever.”
Elite Falls, winner of the Group Two Reisling Stakes in slow going last year, is chasing her first Group One win having twice been placed at the elite level, in last year’s Golden Slipper and earlier this year in the Oakleigh Plate.
O’Shea had targeted the filly first-up at the Oakleigh Plate and the daughter of More Than Ready went within a short half-head of victory only to be denied in the final stride by the fast-finishing Woorim.
“I expect her to run well on Saturday,” Cassidy said.
“She’s on her home track over 1100 metres with a bit of cut out of the ground. That is going to suit her.”
Following the Oakleigh Plate performance, Elite Falls returned home where she had five weeks between her next start in the Group Two Challenge Stakes (1100m).
From the inside barrier, Elite Falls proved no match for gutsy speedster Rain Affair and finished fifth beaten 1-1/2 lengths.
“She’s been going well all along,” O’Shea said.
“She ran very well in the Oakleigh Plate and then had a long break going into the Challenge Stakes last start and probably just ended up in an awkward spot.
“The scenario that presents itself on Saturday probably lends itself to her running well again.
“Rain is a positive for her.”
The Tuesday downpour had the Randwick track rated a heavy (8) four days out from Doncaster day which has three Group One contests on the card.
The final field for the Galaxy will be declared on Wednesday with a limit of 14 runners.
Among the nominations is Group One Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican but trainer Ron Quinton said the mare was very unlikely to be among the acceptances.
He said it would be a tough ask coming back from 1500m to 1100m in the space of two weeks.
Gai Waterhouse will be represented by three-year-old Nobby Snip who will be ridden by Tommy Berry.
Nobby Snip has won five of his seven starts while Berry is unbeaten on the gelding in four rides.
