Emerging sprint star Rain Affair added another string to his bow when he stretched out to 1400 metres for the first time with the same winning result in the Apollo Stakes.
The $1.50 favourite had the Group Two race under control after the first 200 metres and racked up his ninth straight win when he held off Shoot Out ($7) by 2-1/4 lengths with Danleigh ($26) another head away third.
All that is left for Rain Affair to be hailed at the highest level is to win a Group One race and that could come in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in two weeks.
Trainer Joe Pride said the handicap would determine a Newmarket start but it was the race he wanted.
“I thought that was a great Newmarket trial,” Pride said.
“He was on his worst behaviour again and I am worried that a 60,000 crowd at Flemington might upset him.
“But if he gets what I expect he should be there.
“I spoke to the handicapper and before today he was on 54 kilograms and I would expect to go to 55 or 55-1/2 on that performance.”
Although Pride was concerned about Rain Affair’s pre-race behaviour, jockey Corey Brown said it was not much of a problem.
“He got a bit agitated in the mounting yard but it was only because he took fright at something,” Brown said.
“It was nothing to worry about.
“I was very happy with him and what pleased me most was his first furlong (200m).
“It took him a bit longer to get to the front but he relaxed when he got there.
“I could see horses out of the corner of my eye but they weren’t making any ground on him.
“He’s not Black Caviar but he’s getting better and better and we’re nowhere near the bottom of him yet.”
With an ounce of luck, Rain Affair could be unbeaten like Black Caviar with his only defeat in 11 races when he was second at his second start.
Chris Waller was happy with the efforts of Shoot Out and stablemate Danleigh to fill the placings and was also pleased with Rangirangdoo and Hawk Island who ran ninth and 11th respectively.
“All four showed they were on track for the Chipping Norton,” he said.
“It was good to see Shoot Out fight to the line like he did.
“And it was also good to see Rangirangdoo finish off the race.”
Rangirangdoo sparked concern after he trailed in last in the Expressway Stakes at his first start for almost a year.”
Pride said the back-up plan for Rain Affair if the Newmarket was taken off the agenda for any reason would be a tilt at the Group One sprints at the Sydney carnival.
“I would give him a freshen up and then go to the Canterbury Stakes and the TJ Smith,” he said.
“There are options for him.”
AAP TURF
