Talented mare Wild Rain has continued her strong campaign form at South Australia’s Morphettville Racecourse over the weekend; producing typically polished performance to take out the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m).
Wild Rain was impressive in taking out Saturday’s Lightning Stakes at Morphettville. Photo: Jenny Barnes
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Matthew Neilson lead the classy filly forward and settled in prime position within the field of thirteen; allowing early leader Burst Away to set a noticeably quick pace away from the barriers.
Receiving an ideal run in transit, the daughter of Manhattan Rain continued to press forward before mounting an impressive final straight assault; maintaining a strong-enough sprint to hit the line a head clear of Cashed; lightly-raced filly Trupt boxing on for a credible third.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh’s stable representative and son Levi was on hand for Wild Rain’s 2015 Lightning Stakes triumph and was thrilled with the performance mustered by both horse and jockey.
“We’d decided before the race we’d be happiest if she could get a sit,” Kavanagh said.
“She’s quite often found herself in front because she begins so well but I think she actually races better when she settles off the leader.
“She’s had a terrific campaign when you looked back at her record. She’s done a great job.”
Nielson delivered another exceptional performance aboard Wild Rain for success in the 2015 Lightning Stakes but revealed it was not all smooth sailing in the Morphettville feature.
“She didn’t really want to go to the middle of the track,” Neilson said.
“But thankfully she was probably just a bit better than them.”
Posting five wins and a further two minors through 12 competitive starts so far, Wild Rain returned this time for fifth in the Dominant Cafetto Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on June 6th; winning the Pantry Packer BM90 (1000m) and placing tied-second with Angels Beach in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) in her only other start prior to her Lightning Stakes Triumph.
Punters who backed Wild Rain to win the 2015 Lightning Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $2.50 odds for success!
2015 Lightning Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | WILD RAIN | Mark Kavanagh | Matthew Neilson | – | 2 | 56.5kg | $2.50F |
| 2 | 2 | CASHED | Ryan Balfour | Jamie Mott | 0.3L | 5 | 58.5kg | $16 |
| 3 | 8 | TRUPT | Ryan Balfour | Todd Pannell | 3.4L | 10 | 56.5kg | $13 |
| 4 | 10 | COUNTER PULSE | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Clare Lindop | 4.1L | 4 | 54.5kg | $6 |
| 5 | 5 | I’M A FLYING STAR | Mark Riley | Harry Coffey (a) | 5.7L | 9 | 56.5kg | $20 |
| 6 | 12 | STOKER | Tony McEvoy | Shaun Guymer | 6.1L | 12 | 54.5kg | $8 |
| 7 | 1 | BAY ROAD | Richard Jolly | Jake Toeroek (a) | 7.1L | 3 | 58.5kg | $31 |
| 8 | 11 | CARO KANN | Phillip Stokes | Paul Gatt | 8.4L | 11 | 54.5kg | $7.50 |
| 9 | 6 | PRIDE ROCK | Robbie Griffiths | Dom Tourneur | 9.9L | 7 | 56.5kg | $17 |
| 10 | 9 | NICCOROSSA | David Jolly | Shayne Cahill | 11L | 8 | 56.5kg | $41 |
| 11 | 13 | BURST AWAY | Jon O’Connor | Jason Holder | 12.1L | 1 | 54.5kg | $12 |
| 12 | 14 | BIG WAVE | Annette Harder | Ben Claridge | 13.6L | 6 | 54.5kg | $151 |
| 13 | 4 | DOWN THE HATCH | Robbie Griffiths | Simon Price | 22.1L | 13 | 56.5kg | $26 |
