Fifth stakeswinner for Manhattan Rain

Fifth stakeswinner for Manhattan Rain

Fifth stakeswinner for Manhattan Rain

Arrowfield graduate Wild Rain ended the season on a top note for her sire Manhattan Rain with a strong victory in Saturday’s $100,000 SAJC Lightning S. 1050m LR.

Wild Rain is the fifth stakeswinner for Manhattan Rain and his fourth this season, after Group 2 winner Moonovermanhattan, and Listed winners Manapine & Ondina.

That means the son of Encosta de Lago will end 2014/15 as Australia’s joint leading 2nd Season Sire by stakeswinners, alongside Medaglia d’Oro.  Wild Rain’s latest contribution has also pushed Manhattan Rain into fourth on the earnings list, with more than $1.9 million prizemoney.

The 3YO Mark Kavanagh-trained filly started favourite at Morphettville after her dead-heat second in the MRC Sir John Monash S. G3 on 4 July.

Wild Rain coped admirably with the 7-minute race delay caused by Stoker spreading a hind plate and the fractious behaviour of Bay Road and Burst Away in the gates on either side of her.  She jumped well and travelled sweetly just off the lead, took control of the race in the straight and sprinted home resolutely to score by a long neck from Cashed, with Trupt more than three lengths back in third place.

Bred by Arrowfield and John Leaver, Wild Rain is from North Flower (by Rory’s Jester), a 2YO city-winning half-sister to the dam of 2003 Horse of the Year Northerly.

North Flower has also left the stakes-placed city winner Flowerchild to Redoute’s Choice, and has an unraced 2YO daughter Tahlia Star (by Starcraft) with Luke Oliver, and a weanling filly by Animal Kingdom.

Wild Rain was a $150,000 Kavanagh buy from Arrowfield at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale and is raced by Isobel & Levi Kavanagh, Brett Griffith & Tim Storey of Collins St Partners, Wade McKibben, Anna Stenswick’s DTTM Syndicate, Stan & Anna Hunt and Gary & Rhonda Ma. The filly has already rewarded them handsomely with five wins this season, career prizemoney of more than $220,000 and her new stakes-winning status.