Don Story's
exciting sprinter Rain Affair turned in a 'Black Caviar-like' performance in
Saturday's Group II Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Corey Brown controlled the tempo on the 4yo
gelding and he still had a handful of horse when his 8 opponents came off the
bit. It was little more than a stroll down the home straight as Rain Affair
(Commands x I Believe by Octagonal) cruised to a four length victory over Centennial Park (Thorn Park) with AJC Derby hero Shoot
Out (Highy Chaparral) running on strongly for an encouraging third. (photo Steve Hart)
The son of Commands takes his overall record to 9 wins and 1 second from 10 starts for earnings of $534,200.
Trainer Joe Pride said the Group 1 Newmarket
Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10 a likely option.
"I've got a few options but I'd like to run him in the Apollo (Stakes) and then take him down for the Newmarket," Pride said.
"I think he needs a bit of racing yet to get to his peak and that's probably a scary thing for his opposition because I don't think he's anywhere near his peak."
Brown is convinced Rain Affair is ready to take the next step.
"He's always been a good racehorse but today was his best," Brown said. "He's always possessed Group One ability, today he raced like a Group One horse so now all we have to do is win one."
A homebred for Don Storey, Rain Affair is the second foal of the Sydney winning Octagonal mare I Believe who won 4 of her 5 career starts.
Her dam Rain In Spain (Marauding) descends from a family nurtured by Storey. She is a daughter of Rain Cloud (Crown Jester), a half-sister to the 5-time stakes-winner Been There.
The granddam of Rain Cloud, Rain Shadow (Todman) produced the Silver Slipper (G2) winner Rainbeam (Vain) the dam of the outstanding stallion and even better broodmare sire, Centaine.
I Believe has an unraced 2yo filly by Shamardal (USA) named Gullible, a yearling filly by Artie Schiller (USA) and a colt foal by Domesday. She was bred back to Exceed And Excel last year.
