By MIKE DILLON
Former jumps jockey Kenny Rae was so worried about what he would have to pay for his first broodmare purchase that he took three other partners in with him.
Had he known the price tag for Egyptian Queen would be only $300, he might well have owned Egyptian Raine, the winner of yesterday's $40,000 NZ Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Stakes, by himself.
Rae was talked into buying Egyptian Queen at Karaka three years ago when the mare was carrying the Desert Sun filly which is now Egyptian Raine.
Yesterday Rae saw Egyptian Raine outsprint smart opposition to win with ease.
The filly has proved as erratic as she is brilliant.
Last start at Avondale she ran about badly when leading in the home straight and was run down late by Critic. Rae admitted he wished he had put more personal time into educating the filly at the breaking-in stage.
"I was so busy with other horses and the result is now there to see."
Egyptian Raine resents any restraint on her natural brilliance and Rae's instructions to first-time rider Grant Cooksley was to allow the flying filly to go her own way. Cooksley quickly realised the wisdom in those instructions.
"When I even looked like taking hold of her she started to put her head down and as soon as I threw the reins at her she relaxed."
Cooksley knew he had the race won a long way out.
"She was doing pacework on the home bend."
Rae is aware it may be too late to change Egyptian Raine's racing pattern.
He would now spell the filly.
The favourite, Finishing School, made it tough on herself by knuckling over as she jumped out, but in a straight speed race, as it developed, she may always have been in trouble.
"She lost enough ground at the start to make it hard for her," said rider Michael Coleman. "I had no option at that point but to settle back and ride for luck."
Finishing School ran on to finish third but was never going to threaten and was beaten for second by Zirna.
"She wasn't making ground the last bit," said Coleman. "She struggled a little with the right-handed track and at this stage she's better racing the other way round. She'll make a nice 3-year-old."
Racing: Cautious buyer gets a reigning Egyptian
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