Luck Granted: But will the real Rain God stand up?
Who does this guy think he is? Rain God “upset” the Sim’s princely Sunnybank Memorial for the second time this year in the Grade 1 $500,000 Lots Of Luck Stakes at Ireland.
Kevoman3’s sleek brown son of Rainbow Quest keeps stirring up trouble in the older horse Turf Long division. Just when you think he’s broken on through, the colt bows out, then recovers quickly to conquer the best again. Talk about topsy-turvy — is Rain God the real deal or what?
He sure looked like the real thing in the Lots of Luck — breaking alertly as usual, Rain God took advantage of a lack of pacesetters. The colt overpowered stalcasey’s longshot Casey’s Quest in the opening quarters and, at one point, led by as many as eight lengths. Hellllooooo, anyone up to challenge?
The deficit proved too much to handle for the late-closing Sunnybank Memorial. ‘Memo enjoyed an easy-going trip — but no excuses though, Rain God was much the best, pouring it on down the lane to complete the 12 furlongs in 2:29 2/5. The time was two ticks faster than when he beat ‘Memo back in Week 2440’s Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic(G1) in March.
So who is this guy? Last year, Rain God simmered in Sunnybank Memorial’s more spectacular sophomore shadow. While ‘Memo put forth a 9-race win streak, Rain God had to settle for second dibs with his own 3-race victory run. He also met ‘Memo twice in battle too, finishing second to the eventual 2004 Sim Horse of the Year on both occasions over the Epsom course (Derby de English(G1) & Dubai Millenium Memorial(G1)).
Enter, 2005. Rain God’s a different horse…. or is he? Despite his two victories over ‘Sunnybank, Rain God also threw a 3rd-place puzzler in the Doomben Cup(G2) behind another top turf horse, Bristol Rovers (who lost this week at New Jersey). Granted, the Doomben was over 10 furlongs. It was perhaps a quarter-mile too short for the 4YO colt, but he did win big over that distance last year. He’s also #1-ranked in the Classic Turf division too…. Hmmm…… 🙂
Rain God now boasts a 13-for-20 lifetime record and pushes the $5-million earnings barrier. And the plot thickens in the Turf Long Division……