Fifth Stakes win for Rain Affair

Taken on from the outset by fellow speedster Winter King, Commands gelding Rain Affair produced a gusty effort to hold off the late challenge of the lightly weighted three-year-old filly Satin Shoes, to record a neck win in the G2 Challenge Stakes over 1100m at Randwick on March 31.

Trainer Joe Pride stated after the race that things were against the gelding in the race, not being suited by the drying track nor the 1100m.

“If he gets a wet track, I dont think they can beat him.” These were the words of trainer Joe Pride in reference to Rain Affair’s next start, the G1 Darley TJ Smith Stakes over 1200m at Randwick in two weeks time.

The winner of 11 of his 13 starts, including five at Stakes level, Rain Affair has amassed over $800,000 in career earnings for her connections.

Rain Affair was bred by Mr DW Storey and Mrs V G Storey and is out of the Octagonal mare I Believe, a half-sister to Stakes winner Walk Alone. I Believe has a Shamardal two-year-old named Gullible in the stable of Chris Waller, a Domesday weanling colt and was covered by Exceed And Excel in the last breeding season.

The sire of ten Stakes winners this season which includes Ambidexter, Lamasery, Appearance, Balmont as well as G1 Golden Slipper contender Epaulette, Commands was represented by a new Stakes horse earlier in the day when two-year-old colt Limes finished third in the G2 Pago Pago Stakes over 1200m.

Sitting in third position on the Australian sire table, Commands will be represented by nine yearlings at the forthcoming Inglis Easter yearling sale highlighted by lot 311, a filly out of G1 winner Our Egyptian Raine and lot 263, a half-sister to G1-winning two-year-old filly Apercu.