Racing: Switch for Red Rain

Chris Symons will make a timely return from suspension to ride lightly raced three-year-old Red Rain in the Sandown Guineas after James Winks jumped off the colt to ride Amah Rock.

Winks has ridden Red Rain all of his five starts but bailed out of his biggest assignment yet in today's 1600-metre Group Two event.

Co-trainer Simon Zahra said the move was surprising given Winks' history with the horse.

"He has ridden him every run and all his work, saying he's a Group One horse, but he got off him on Wednesday morning," Zahra said.

"It's hard to understand but good luck to him."

Symons, who was suspended for careless riding on Melbourne Cup Day, has enjoyed a good part of his success with the Mat Ellerton-Zahra stable.

Amah Rock and Red Rain were rivals in last Saturday's Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes (1400m) at Flemington with Red Rain finishing sixth, two lengths behind third-placed Amah Rock.

TAB Sportsbet has Amah Rock third favourite at $8.50 behind Carbine Club Stakes winner Galah ($2.80) and Mahisara ($5), while Red Rain is at $13.

Like several Guineas runners, Red Rain is a query at 1600 metres but Zahra believes he can be competitive.

He said Red Rain should be able to take a more forward position at Sandown from a favourable gate (six) after drawing wide barriers at his last two starts.

"He hasn't really drawn a barrier most of his life but the one thing he has in his favour [today] is the gate," Zahra said.

- AAP