Incoming rain projected for Flemington in advance of the Australian Cup is pleasing to Emma-Lee and David Browne.
Expectations include up to 20mm on Thursday, up to 9mm Friday, and 1-6mm Saturday.
Such conditions tipped the scales for the Brownes, directing Basilinna to Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington rather than the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) same afternoon.
The team eyes the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington this November featuring Basilinna, plotting via the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in May at Flemington.
Basilinna won the feature last year for a Melbourne Cup penalty exemption repeated this time, but a bone chip stopped her post-spring debut.
The Roy Higgins provides an identical waiver to its conqueror Saturday.
Emma-Lee Browne explained how forecast precipitation guided the Australian Cup nomination after Basilinna’s sole lead-in, trailing Birdman home in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield 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 will echo the route to last year’s Andrew Ramsden with Basilinna, encompassing Adelaide.
Yet if the mare shines in the Australian Cup, Sydney ventures could beckon.
“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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