Rain would be nice for Carrington roughie

With storms set to break a spell of hot and dry weather in Sydney, Wouldnt It Be Nice’s hopes of ending a drought stretching more than 18 months could be on the rise.

Storms are predicted to bring up to 15mm of rain on Friday to help the gelding mark his 50th start with an upset victory in Saturday’s Carrington Stakes at Randwick.

“A bit of rain around will just enhance his chances dramatically,” trainer Paul Perry’s foreman son Shannon said.

“His best form is on wet tracks so if we can get some rain, it would be nice.”

The backmarker didn’t get suitable conditions on a dry surface last Friday at Gosford where he ran seventh in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).

“Gosford was a leader-dominated track. His sectionals were as good as any horse in the race,” Perry said.

Unfortunately for Wouldnt It Be Nice, most of his six Carrington rivals have also performed on rain-affected ground.

Ecuador, Ninth Legion and Gold Symphony have won in soft going but not heavy.

The Kim Waugh-trained pair Oxford Poet and Shiraz boast wins on heavy ground, while Princefamous has had two unplaced runs on soft tracks.

Jockey Rachael Murray retains the ride on Wouldnt It Be Nice as she looks to continue her breakout season.

Murray leads the national country riders’ ranks and is sitting third behind Brenton Avdulla as NSW’s most successful jockey.

While her opportunities in the city have been limited, she rode Wouldnt It Be Nice to finish second in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m) on New Year’s Eve when he was a $101 chance.

“He’s stepping up to 1400 metres on Saturday and he’ll get that trip if he’s ridden quietly,” Perry said.

Wouldnt It Be Nice is the outsider of the field at $15 with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Ecuador the $3.60 favourite.

Oxford Poet is on the second line of betting at $4 while stablemate Shiraz is a $9 hope.

Gold Symphony has been supported from $6 to $4.80, relegating $5 chance Ninth Legion to fourth pick.