Runaway victory for Rainsville

RAINSVILLE easily made amends for his unlucky loss in last month’s Announcer’s Trophy, easily winning yesterday’s closing event at seven furlongs for non-winners of an overnight allowance event.

The four-year-old grey, bred Casual Trick-Fiftyshadesofray, beat SUNSET SILHOUTTE by six lengths, confirming it was a result of the rough trip he had to endure in the October 29 Announcers’ Trophy why the filly had got within a neck of him when he was outfinished by her stablemate, 10-1 outsider TEKAPUNT.

Stalking MORIMOTO, BRINKS, and THE GOOD WITCH after getting a clean break from stall seven, RAINSVILLE travelled smoothly along the rail under Tevin Foster to reel in the leaders coming off the home turn.

MORIMOTO, who had led the six and a half furlong Announcers’ Trophy to the last few hops, tried a brief rally, but was quickly brushed aside by RAINSVILLE, who sprinted clear with topweight 126lb, leaving SUNSET SILHOUTTE to claim second ahead of 22-1 longshot RING CHARMER.

RAINSVILLE covered the distance in 1:27.0, 1.2 seconds faster than ALL FOR LOVE, who won the previous event for three-year-olds, non-winners of two races.

The Abbie Grannum Memorial for two-year-old maidens was also run at seven furlongs, won in a pedestrian 1:31.1 by 27-1 outsider BUTTERCUP, who upstaged his even-money stablemate, MATUSO.

RAINSVILLE and BUTTERCUP, who was partnered by sparingly used Oneil Scott, handed trainer Richard Azan a two-timer on the 10-race card.

Champion jockey Dane Dawkins rode back-to-back winners, 15-1 outsider AIRSTREAM and 3-5 favourite ALL FOR LOVE, reducing Reyan Lewis’ lead to 13 atop the riders’ standings following his rival’s three-timer on Saturday.