The anticipated rainfall expected at Flemington ahead of the Australian Cup card is welcome news for Emma-Lee and David Browne.
Forecasters predict as much as 20mm on Thursday, another 9mm on Friday, and 1mm to 6mm on Saturday.
That weather outlook convinced the Brownes to enter their mare Basilinna in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington instead of the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) on the same day.
The Brownes aim to run Basilinna in this year’s Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington come November and are preparing the mare for the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May.
Basilinna took out that race last year, securing a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup which is available again, but a bone chip interrupted the mare’s campaign following just one start in the spring.
The winner of the Roy Higgins on Saturday also gains a ballot exemption.
Emma-Lee Browne noted that the predicted rain swayed their choice to target the Australian Cup despite Basilinna having just one prior outing, where she finished tailed off behind Birdman in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 14.
“I’ve been praying for rain and that is why we decided to accept for the Australian Cup,” Browne said.
“We felt the Roy Higgins was a bit far second-up.
“I thought she was really good the other day and she just blew out in the last little bit, so the 2000 (metres) suits better, but it just so happens that it’s quite a strong Group 1.
“With the rain that’s coming, it probably gets her a bit closer and slows a few of the fancied ones down.”
Browne indicated they would replicate last year’s lead-up path to the Andrew Ramsden for Basilinna, which featured a visit to Adelaide.
However, she added that should Basilinna excel in the Australian Cup, they might consider options in Sydney.
“The Andrew Ramsden is the one we have a circle around and hopefully by then there will be some give in the ground,” Browne said.
“We know she likes it and I’ve been watching the forecasts and I’m praying for rain.
“She had a tiny chip that was removed last year and she’s come back great. It was incredibly bad timing.
“She was a bit heavy going into her first run, but we were really happy with her, and before that she possibly over-trialled.
“She’s never trialled that good before and I think she might have got a little over-excited.
“Her work has been good since and hopefully she runs well on Saturday.”
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