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Trainer Joe Pride has loaded a strong two-pronged attack on Saturday's $175,000 Challenge Stakes at Rosehill with Rain Affair and Neeson.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Pride is looking forward to seeing Rain Affair bounce back from his Newmarket Handicap defeat in Melbourne, especially if the weather favours his noted wet track performer.
"A bit of rain would be nice," Pride said. "Five to ten millimetres over Wednesday, Thursday, Friday would be enough."
Pride is confident of a much better result than when he sent Rain Affair away from Sydney for the first time to take on Hay List in the G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 10.
Hay List powered down the middle of the track under the topweight of 58.5kg to record a memorable win while Rain Affair finished sixth after contesting the lead until the final 200m on the firm track. It was the first unplaced performance of his career.
Pride says the trip to Melbourne has done Rain Affair no harm, being pleased with his keen work at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
"He's put in a couple of good gallops and hopefully he can bounce back," Pride said.
"He's come through the Melbourne experience well. There's been no change in his attitude which is good."
Hay List did not accept for the Challenge Stakes but Pride says he will not back away from taking him on again in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick next month.
"I'm kind of a looking forward to a rematch with Hay List if we can get it," Pride said.
Pride said Neeson will have an important gear change with the sprinter to race in blinkers.
"It will be his first go with the blinkers on," Pride said.
"He trialled in them the other day and he looked like a superstar.
"I've been told to put them on before by a couple of jockeys but I've kept holding off waiting for this race and then the TJ Smith."
The John O'Shea-trained Elite Falls also returns from a Melbourne trip to run in the Challenge.
Elite Falls was resuming from a spell when she was nabbed on the line by Woorim in the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield last month.
She will be reunited with Jim Cassidy on Saturday.
Melbourne star Bel Sprinter, Winter King, Satin Shoes and Cardinal Virtue make up the Challenge Stakes field.