She Will Reign was favourite for the Golden Slipper when a filly by the same sire caught Lauri Wray’s eye and the trainer knew she had to have it.
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The yearling, also by Manhattan Rain, was ‘strutting her stuff’ at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Wray happily paid $25,000 to have her in her stable.
“The way she was walking around the sale yard, she just had a great attitude,” Wray remembers.
“She had a good strong walk on her and she was by Manhattan Rain and at the time She Will Reign was favourite for the Golden Slipper as well.”
Wray’s filly would later become known as Spanish Rain and it wasn’t long after her purchase that She Will Reign went on to win the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
Immaturity meant Spanish Rain would never tackle the same two-year-old features as Wray opted to take a more patient approach with her filly.
"She's a nice filly, but she's just been a bit immature," Wray said.
"She's been a bit physically weak. Mentally she was fine very early on but she wasn't there physically.
"We given her a few trials because she wasn't strong enough but her latest trials have been good. I am really happy with her."
Wray has given Spanish Rain six trials ahead of her debut at Kembla Grange in the Keep Dapto Great Maiden Handicap (1000m).
The maiden could feature up to five first starters, with three Godolphin runners nominated for the sprint.
Wray admits it will make the form hard to line up, but believes her filly is ready for her first visit to the races.
"She is going there to win, but as long as she does everything right I will be happy," Wray said.
"You have to start somewhere so I would like to see her pick up a cheque.
"I think she is probably looking towards the 1200 to 1400m later on."
Jockey Jess Taylor has secured the steer on Spanish Rain on Saturday and she will jump from barrier five.
The opening event of the seven race card jumps at 1.04pm.