Nobody likes unloading a truckload of horses in pouring rain, but Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta was only seeing upside in the chore.
Latta has seven runners engaged for Saturday's Riccarton meeting and travelled them down overnight Wednesday, the float arriving at the track at 5.30am on Thursday.
Latta will saddle the favoured pair of Platinum Command and North And South in Saturday's Gr.3 eStar 119th Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton, both mares at their best on deep tracks, hence the trainer's delight with the Christchurch rain.
"It was pouring down as they were unloading the truck this morning and to be honest, we were pleased to hear it," Latta said.
TAB bookmakers have Platinum Command as a $4.60 favourite after wins at her last two starts, while North And South shares $6 second favouritism with Lochan Ora, a winner of his last four starts.
A winner of two of her seven starts at Riccarton, Platinum Command gained her first open class win in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham last start, scoring by six lengths to seal favouritism for the Winter Cup.
"She's in terrific form. The only real worry with her is it's been three weeks between races and she's shown she goes best on the back-up," Latta said.
"But she gets in with a nice weight and she looks great, so we think she should go well."
Platinum Command has won four of her six starts on heavy tracks, while North And South, who was a beaten favourite in last year's Winter Cup on a slow track, has won seven of her 16 starts on heavy going.
"North And South worked really well on Monday morning. She just doesn't like those gluey tracks and that's why we're welcoming the rain with her. She's best when the tracks are loose," Latta said.
"I'm really happy with both of them and by all accounts they've both travelled down well, so here's hoping anyway."
Latta's other runners engaged for Riccarton on Saturday are Golden Bay, Master Platinum, Rod's Lincoln and Itsagem.
