Rain Affair has staked his claim to the Group 2 Expressway Stakes next month with a sizzling trial performance at Warwick Farm today.

The Commands gelding won his 800 metre trial in a speedy 46.1 seconds, beating his closest rival to the post by seven lengths.

The performance placed him more than one second clear of any of the other 800 metre trial winners on the day.

Trainer Joe Pride felt the run was a sign of what is to come in the Expressway Stakes on February 11.

“He’s a running machine, isn’t he?” Pride said.

“It was a really good trial and I’m looking forward to taking him to the races next Saturday.”

Pride said everything indicated to Rain Affair being in top form ahead of his autumn racing carnival debut.

“It looked like he pulled up really well from the trial,” Pride said.

“He’s just naturally athletic and can do things that most other horses can’t.

“The horse on his inside (Just Another) made him work harder than what we probably would have liked to but he is a tough horse and he’s a fit horse.”

Rain Affair won his last start in the Listed Carrington Stakes at Warwick Farm on January 2.

“If he had a trial like that and he hadn’t had a run yet I would have been pretty disappointed, but because he’s had a run back it won’t hurt him and he’s got eleven days until the Expressway to get over it,” Pride said.

Rain Affair has won an awe inspiring eight of his nine career starts and has earned more than $330,000 in prize money so far.

After his Expressway Stakes run, Rain Affair will go on towards either the Group 2 Apollo Stakes or the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.