Third up from a spell, Rising Thunder finally put it altogether – with some very vigorous riding by Ben Allen – to break its maiden with a runaway win.
The $65 000 yearling has now earned $33 555 from its 12 starts, with four placings to go along with its first win.
Lumped with the top weight of 58.5 kg, Rising Thunder jumped fairly well and initially settled down just off the pace before being shuffled a bit further back in the 11-horse field.
But as they turned for home, Allen wasn’t going to die wondering, pushing Rising Thunder four and five-wide looking for some clear air.
In the meantime, three-year-old filly Fling stole a march along the running rail and, with the field all in the straight and headed for home, appeared to have a good lead.
That’s where Allen earned his money by finding that run he needed and putting it to the horse to respond.
Rising Thunder started to wind up nicely, with race favourite Single Crown in hot pursuit. But Allen got past the bolter and won easing up by almost two lengths.
A jubilant Brown, who had given the horse a big push pre-race, suggested he might collect later from any punters who took his advice.
He agreed the horse had a lot of ability but was also hoping to persuade its owners to have him gelded.
“He’s got a lot of brains, this horse, so it is a bit hard to keep him going,” Brown said.
“I was also glad Ben decided to stay for the second day because he thought the horse had a good chance, too.”
Allen, who rode Moshkenny to victory in the first on the card on the first day of the carnival, said he felt Rising Thunder had been placed in the right race and he was impressed with the trainer’s confidence.
“The horse gave me a pretty simple ride, and he can be a bit hit and miss when it comes to the line but he was pretty honest today,” Allen said.
“He had been travelling nicely, in a race being run at a good tempo, and I was in a good spot and aware that I had the favourite inside me, so I didn’t want to go too early,” he said.
“So I was happy to wait, but when I did pick it up he picked up underneath me and made it pretty easy.”
Allen finished with two winners from the weekend’s 15 races, but it was Blaike McDougall who stole the show with a treble on the opening day.
