Wild Rain goes one better in the Sir Monash Stakes
WILD Rain finished second in last year’s Sir Monash Stakes, but it went one better at Caulfield on Saturday in a scintillating sprinting display.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare sat on the speed, just in behind Lord Of The Sky, before letting down solidly in the straight under the urging of jockey Damien Oliver.
Oliver was hoping to lead on the four-year-old, but he didn’t panic accordingly to stable representative Levi Kavanagh.
“Ollie was worried about the tempo and thought he might have to lead and end up getting driven mad,” Kavanagh said.
“I told him she didn’t have to lead but can sit just off them in the early stages – then just let her go.”
Wild Rain didn’t have noted fresh up form and Kavanagh will elect to have only a light spring before starting a preparation for the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast next year.
“We’ll space her runs this prep and keep her to the minimum distances,” Kavanagh said.
“She’ll keep to these sort of races and definitely we will head towards the Magic Millions again.”
Wild Rain will also be looking to go one better in the Magic Millions after finishing second last year. Kavanagh thinks the daughter of Manhattan Rain has improved since.
“I think she’s come back a bit better this time,” Kavanagh said. “Today she was good so we’re hoping she can go on with it.”
The race wasn’t without its controversy with Lord Of The Sky finishing third, but subsequently being relegated back to fourth behind Trevinder ($10 to place) and Atmospherical ($3.90 to place).
Race favourite Fast ‘n’ Rocking had no luck in the running after jockey Dwayne Dunn let the shortening $2.40 favourite to drift back from the outset.