Placed in the Group III Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley and Listed Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick, the Swettenham Stud colour-bearer Decent Raine finally had things go her way in the valuable John Jens VOBIS Gold Eureka Stockade at Ballarat on Saturday.
Given the run of the race by Jye McNeil, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained daughter of Dissident came clear in the closing stages to defeat Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed) by three and a half lengths with Wangoon (Manhattan Rain) a further three-quarter of a length back in third.
A $40,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Racing / Swettenham Stud / John Foote Bloodstock from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Decent Raine advances her record to two wins, a second and two thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $188,525.
David Eustice said the daughter of Dissident deserved a change of luck.
“She’s been racing really well. She hasn’t had a lot of luck and ran really well at Flemington but just didn’t get the gap,” Eustice said.
“It is great prizemoney. VOBIS Gold is a great initiative, and everything just went quite smoothly.
“It was special to get a winner in these colours, which have been carried by a lot of good horses here and back home (UK).
“Adam (Sangster) is a great supporter, and he put a lot of his mates in this horse. She’s got a bit of black type, but she might back up next Saturday at Caulfield.”
McNeil said it planned out perfectly.
“It all worked out really well. The key to it was genuine speed, and I was able to find a nice settling position.
“She’s a horse that travels within herself very comfortably, so with a bit of cover she was able to relax.
“The way she chimed in was very classy.
“The way she travelled was very easy, very push-button and it’s a great feeling when you’re riding a horse like that.”
Bred by Rosemont Stud and Moody Racing, Decent Raine is the first live foal of the winning Thorn Park mare Royal Raine.
A daughter of the multiple Group placed Instantly (Spectacular Love), Royal Raine is a half-sister to Group III Newcastle Cup winner Stratofortress (Stravinsky) and stakes-placed Clifton (Bahhare).
Instantly is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 WRC Captain Cook Stakes and Group 1 Thorndon Mile winner Calm Harbour and a half-sister to the Group 1 Adelaide Cup winner The A Train.
Royal Raine has a 2yo colt by Exosphere, a yearling filly by Shamus Award and was covered by Shamus Award again last year.
After beginning his career at Newgate Farm, Horse of The Year Dissident now stands at Riverdene Stud for a fee of $6,600.
