Bill Thurlow has enjoyed some of his greatest successes at Ellerslie and will return to the Auckland track on Saturday with a promising filly on the rise in No Rain Ever.
Thurlow tasted success on the Avondale Cup card when claiming the feature event with special mare Glory Days in 2019, before she went on to claim the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m).
Aiming for another Ellerslie feature, the Waverley horseman is preparing No Rain Ever for the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m).
The three-year-old sprint was formerly run on Boxing Day, however, its new place on Avondale Cup Day has drawn a relatively fresh-faced field of gallopers chasing black-type honours, with the daughter of No Nay Never among them.
No Rain Ever impressed in her juvenile campaign, splitting subsequent Group-performing fillies Tulsi and Chantilly Lace on debut, before going on to finish a creditable sixth in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
The filly broke maidens in dominant fashion when returning as a three-year-old last September, however, a set-back following the Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas (1400m) ruled her out for the remainder of the spring.
Thurlow’s patience was rewarded when her impeccable fresh-up form line continued at Trentham on Wellington Cup Day last month when No Rain Ever showed her class when winning over 1200m in the hands of Craig Grylls.
“She was very good at Trentham, she went down there off a preparation that we thought she may be a little bit raw still, but her class shone, and she got the job done,” Thurlow said.
Thurlow expressed his confidence in Grylls, who is in flying form at present, and sticks aboard the filly on Saturday.
“The way Craig is riding at the moment, which is extremely well, he doesn’t need many instructions, so we’ll leave it to him pretty much,” he said.
“He knows this filly really well now, he’s ridden her twice for two wins and really likes her, which is always a good sign.
“There’s a lot of speed in the race, especially with Merchant Queen who is very quick, so I’d imagine our filly will be two or three pairs back, but she’s got a nice strong finish on her,” he said.
“It’ll be her first time going right-handed at Ellerslie, but her work has been very good since and she’s had a nice break in between races so we’re really happy with her. We think she’ll run a nice race.”
Thurlow had originally hoped No Rain Ever would follow in her dam’s footsteps in chasing the three-year-old distance features, with the talented November Rain narrowly missing top honours in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in 2010, finishing second under the care of Richard Collett.
“Originally, we were going to push her out over ground and aim for something like the Oaks, but it just all came to soon, so we’ve just stuck with the sprinting game for the moment,” Thurlow said.
“If she comes through the race well on Saturday, it’ll leave our options open either way. She’s quite a talented filly so there are plenty of options for her, whether that possibly is in Australia as there’s not a huge amount left for her here this season.”
Thurlow will also line-up Field Of Gold in the Victoria Racing Club 1500, the Starsplangedbanner five-year-old returning to the meeting where he claimed the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) two years ago when prepared by Tony Pike.
Also a Group 1-placegetter at three, Field Of Gold will have his second raceday appearance for Thurlow, after not taking a liking to the tough conditions at New Plymouth fresh-up earlier this month.
“He’s been with us for a little while now, he had a bit of a setback, but he’s done everything right since then,” Thurlow said.
“We were a little bit disappointed with his fresh-up start, albeit the track was very heavy which he doesn’t like, and he got back in the field.
“He’s an Open horse, and there’s not that many races that suit him, so he had to go up there. He might just need the run tomorrow.”
Thurlow elected to trial Field Of Gold on Tuesday at Foxton as a final preparation, which resulted in a comfortable victory over 1200m under Grylls, who takes the reins on Saturday.
“He trialled well,” Thurlow said.
“Instead of taking the risk and going straight to Ellerslie, we just thought we’d give him the hit-out on Tuesday and make sure he’s where we want him to be heading to the races.”
Thurlow’s attention will return to the Central Districts on Sunday, with Whangaehu contesting the Wairoa Cup (2100m) at Hastings.
The Proisir gelding spent much of his career across the Tasman with Chris Waller and returned to New Zealand on a winning note in December.
He has produced two creditable performances since, most recently when stepping up to 2000m at New Plymouth earlier this month.
“We thought his last start was possibly a little bit flat, we thought perhaps he should’ve been winning that race, but the locals on a heavy track at New Plymouth are very hard to beat so he did well,” Thurlow said.
“This is probably the right race for him, we think he’ll run well but we’re still not 100 percent sure if he’s an out-and-out stayer, so we’ll know a lot more after Sunday. The track will be good, which will give us a good line on him.”
Thurlow has engaged the services of Per-Anders Graberg, who will ride the five-year-old at the 54kg minimum on Sunday.
“I haven’t met him (Graberg) yet, but he’s got a lot of experience and ridden over 2000 winners so he knows this game, and can ride at 54kg,” Thurlow said.
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