WELLINGTON - The Masterton Racing Club's Lowland Stakes claimed another victim when odds-on favourite Spring Rain was beaten out of a place in the group three event.
The race has been a bogey for favourites over the past 25 years and Saturday's running, held at Hastings, saw Spring Rain manage only fourth behind Star Satire, Butterscotch and Playful Fingers.
This year's Masterton meeting was transferred to Hastings because the club's original venue, Trentham, was considered too wet.
The $35,000 Lowland Stakes (1400m), second race in the Filly of the Year series, was the feature on the programme.
Spring Rain was expected to prove too good for her eight rivals after winning the first race in the series, the Highview Stakes (1200m), at Hastings last month.
But, after enjoying a perfect trail to the home bend, Spring Rain failed to produce her customary acceleration over the final stages and finished 4-1/4 lengths behind the winner.
She joined an illustrious list of hot favourites who have been beaten in the race.
The mighty La Mer suffered her first defeat when beaten by outsider So Fox in the 1976 running and the following year the speedy Sly Wink could only manage third behind Wandreen.
Beaufort Lass (sixth in 1982), Eastern Bay (third in 1983), Vin D'Amour (third in 1984), Nimue (second in 1985), Snap (second in 1994) and Fleur De Chine (third in 1996) are other high profile fillies who have had their colours lowered in the event.
Rider Vinny Colgan was at a loss to explain Spring Rain's lack of zest over the final stages, other than to say her big effort to win the Highview may have taken too much out of her.
Spring Rain never stopped trying but never looked like picking up Star Satire in the run home.
Trainer Roger James, while obviously disappointed in Spring Rain's performance, felt the filly is probably best if allowed to lead in her races.
"I still think she'll get 1400 metres and even a mile (1600m) but I just wonder whether we are better to use her natural speed and let her go to the front with that big loping stride" James said.
But, while Spring Rain may not have been race-hard fit, neither was the winner Star Satire.
Tauranga trainer Ross Taylor said he eased up on the Volksraad filly after her unlucky run in last month's Highview as he never intended backing her up in the Lowland.
It was only after the race was transferred to Hastings that he changed his mind.
Star Satire was having just her fifth start and has won three races and just over $36,000 in stakes.
It is still well short of the $130,000 her Auckland owners David and Angela Paykel paid for her.
Star Satire may now contest the third race in the fillies' series, the $35,000 Desert Gold Stakes (1500m) at Trentham on October 21.
- NZPA
Racing: Lowland bogey still alive as Spring Rain finds
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