While most trainers would welcome a dry spring, Awapuni’s Tony Bambry is hoping the wet weather continues in order to realise a long-held Group 1 ambition for Dubai Belle.

It will be a case of third time lucky should Bambry’s Spring Classic plan fall into place for his versatile and in-form mare, who has posted seven of her eight career victories on rain-affected going.

Dubai Belle was a last-start winner over 1600 metres at Otaki and she will step up to a middle distance in the El Cheapo Cars Raukawa Cup Day Oct 18th Handicap on her home turf this weekend.

“At this stage the plan is to win on Saturday and then have another crack at the Merial Metric Mile and if she was to run in the first three then we’d pay a late nom for the Group One at Hastings,” Bambry said.

“It looks like it might be a wet spring and we’ve wanted to run her in that race for the last two years, but things haven’t panned out.”

Dubai Belle is a past winner of the Gr.3 Merial Mile and she has also earned further black type with placings in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes and the Listed Ag Challenge Stakes.

Should Bambry’s Hastings plan come to fruition, it would be his second consecutive runner in the weight-for-age feature.

Twelve months ago he was represented by the 70-1 shot Ormond Road, who was unplaced but finished only five and a-half lengths from the winner Nashville.

Dubai Belle has operated well between mile and middle distance assignments and Bambry said the seven-year-old had done well since her most recent success.

“She won really well and she can mix it from 1600 to 2000 metres – having only five opponents on Saturday will help as well.

“She’s out of a Stark South mare so she’s got stamina on her side and her ability to get handy and fight on strongly is a big asset. Darryl Bradley is going to ride her and I think he will really suit the mare.”