Tango Rain scores again in Sydney

Manhattan Rain is assembling a strong group of rising 3YOs for Spring racing and one of them, Tango Rain underlined his readiness for the challenge with his second Sydney win on Saturday.

The powerfully built colt got the best of the start, speared to the lead and, despite the windy conditions, bowled along easily in front before going clear to score by 1.3 lengths.

The quality of Tango Rain’s performance was underlined by the good efforts of the next four horses who completed an Arrowfield-sired first five.  Thronum (by Snitzel) recovered from a slow start to claim second and Arrowfield’s own runner Hair Trigger (by Smart Missile) powered home from the rear for third, with Decorated Soldier (by Snitzel) fourth and the first filly home, Tickling (by Not A Single Doubt), a brave fifth.

Watch Tango Rain’s second win at Canterbury.
Read: Tango Rain wins on debut in Sydney.

Tango Rain’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy said, “That was pleasing. That was a handy little race here today and he did everything right, got out and controlled it then kicked strongly. They’ve got options going forward.”

Those options include the $1 million ATC Golden Rose S. G1 over 1400m at Rosehill on 10 September but Tango Rain’s trainer Gerald Ryan isn’t sure that’s the best race for the Teeley Assets home-bred.

Ryan said, “He’s one of my better ones, he’s a nice horse, always has been, he’s always been an easy horse to train.

“But about the Golden Rose; I’m not sure, I’ve got a question mark about him, the way he’s built and there’s plenty of other races you can go to.”

A future stallion career for Tango Rain (ex Tango Fire by Anabaa) is already being considered by Ryan and Teeley Assets. It’s a subject they know something about, given their former charges include Manhattan Rain himself, Redoute’s Choice, Hurricane Sky and Snitzel. 

A happy consequence of Tango Rain’s victory was a novel photo opportunity for legendary Sydney racing photographer Martin King, honoured by the Australian Turf Club with the 2YO race named the Happy 70th Birthday Martin King Handicap. Most often active on the other side of the camera, he’s pictured here (right) after presenting the victory ribbon to Gerald Ryan.