Weather will be the key factor in where emerging sprint star Rain Affair runs on Saturday with trainer Joe Pride eyeing the Apollo Stakes in Sydney and the Futurity in Melbourne.While Rain Affair is adept on all types of ground, he enjoys wet tracks more than most and Pride is looking for the softest surface on Saturday when he steps up to 1400 metres for the first time.In all likelihood it will be in Sydney with rain predicted most of the week.The Group Two Apollo would pit him against much the
Weather will be the key factor in where emerging sprint star Rain Affair runs on Saturday with trainer Joe Pride eyeing the Apollo Stakes in Sydney and the Futurity in Melbourne.
While Rain Affair is adept on all types of ground, he enjoys wet tracks more than most and Pride is looking for the softest surface on Saturday when he steps up to 1400 metres for the first time.
In all likelihood it will be in Sydney with rain predicted most of the week.
The Group Two Apollo would pit him against much the same field he beat in the Expressway Stakes while the Futurity, also over 1400 could mean a clash with Black Caviar.
"Track conditions will play a big part and Sydney looks the most likely," Pride said.
"The Futurity is an option.
"If it was a rain affected track I'd love to take on Black Caviar.
"I want to be the one who beats her."
Rain Affair has a long way to go to get to Black Caviar's record but he is building an enviable portfolio.
He has nine wins from 10 starts with the his only defeat an unlucky second in his second race.
Pride believes Rain Affair will not fully mature for another year but will be able to snare a Group One this autumn with the next month's Newmarket Handicap the lure.
"That's the race I'd like to win with him," he said.
"He should get in on a reasonable weight."
Chris Waller is will have at least four runners to challenge Rain Affair in the Apollo including Rangirangdoo who prompted concern when he trailed in last of the nine runners in the Expressway on February 1.
Rangirangdoo's career has been plagued by injury interspersed with Group One wins in the 2010 Doncaster and last year's George Ryder Stakes.
The Expressway was his first start since the George Ryder in April and although things looked dire momentarily, Waller said the seven-year-old had shown no ill effects.
"There are no issues with him," Waller said.
"He galloped really well on Friday morning.
"He'll have another gallop on Monday to make sure he is 100 per cent but we've found nothing wrong with him."
Waller said Expressway third placegetter Shoot Out had done extremely well since his first run for the stable and would line up as would Danleigh with Hawk Island and Foreteller to also be nominated.