Our Egyptian Raine Rules in Swettenham
- Saturday, 15 February 2003 00:00
Trained at Ruakaka by Ken Rae, Our Egyptian Raine showed blistering early pace and then kept fighting in the straight to down the fast finishing Brief Embrace by a half head.
The four-year-old daughter of Desert Sun, Our Egyptian Raine burst upon the lead in the early stages and from that point was never headed.
"It's a huge thrill," winning trainer Ken Rae said. "Second in this race would have been great, but to win it is just fantastic."
Our Egyptian Raine must be one of the cheapest Group One winners of all time. She is the result of a purchase made by good mates Mal Barratt and Rae.
"We purchased Egyptian Queen in foal to Desert Sun for a very modest amount," Rae recalled.
Although reluctant to give the purchase price of his wonderful investment, Rae did confirm it was less than $1000.
Rae is now making a name for himself after what he describes as a "very ordinary" riding career.
"I rode about 20 odd winners in about ten years," Rae said. "So it's certainly nothing to rave about."
Peter Moody was delighted with runner-up performance of the Group One performed filly Brief Embrace.
"It was a very good run and it appears she is back to her best," Moody said after the fast finishing second.
"We might look at the Newmarket (Handicap) with her now before maybe freshening up and heading back for the Goodwood," Moody added.
Paul Gatt reported the quality mare Fair Embrace had travelled well during the race but had nothing to give over the concluding stages.
"You can't take anything away from the winner," Gatt said. "She did all the work and kept going."
The Group Two Swettenham Stud Stakes has an illustrious group of previous winners including True Spirit, Apple Danish, Dantelah, Umaline, Rain Dance Lady, Tarare, Leica Western and Viminaria.
