River Rain (left) with Dancing Tango© Photo Healy Racing
'Bookie's horse' River Rain had one last laugh at punters today as the Joseph O'Brien-trained filly defeated better supported stablemate Dancing Tango to land Dundalk's Now Racing Every Wednesday Maiden.
River Rain was the beaten favourite on five previous runs and today was returned a 7/2 chance, behind English import and new stablemate Dancing Tango, which was backed from 9/4 to 6/4 favourite.
Ridden by Hugh Horgan, River Rain raced with the leaders and having led a furlong out, stayed well to beat Dancing Tango by 2.25 lengths.
Afterwards O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said "she has got some strong form through the season at the Curragh and Galway and I honestly don't know if once or twice she pulled herself up in front. Maybe this surface is for her.”
"I thought she was beaten there for a minute but she put her head down and galloped. She has got her head in front now, so hopefully might do it again.
"Sometimes you come and they are better on this (surface). When she hit the front today, she never thought about pulling up. She stays well.
"I've no doubt Joseph will find something for her (here)."
River Rain's dam Cocoon, by Galileo, recorded one win from 21 starts for trainer Aidan O'Brien, when dead-heating in a 2014 Listowel nursery.
Quotes from Michael Graham
