March 2 - Most racehorse trainers shy away from wet conditions, but not Australian trainer Joe Pride who is hoping the wet weather that has been soaking Sydney do far this week continues into Saturday, to give his wet-loving horse Vision And Power a welcome boost in the 1600m Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr 1).

This year Warwick Farm Racecourse will host the race instead of Randwick. The AUD$300,000 Chipping Norton Stakes is usually an exciting weight-for-age outing that attracts many top Sydney runners. Hopefully despite the expected wet weather conditions this year's race will do the same with 17 nominations.

Come Saturday betting fans will be keeping a close eye on Vision And Power, who will likely start as one of the favourites, if not the favourite, considering he finished a close second to Tuesday Joy in this race last year. As such he'll be out for revenge, as will his trainer, and a damp and thus soft track could be just the ticket.

After his second in last year's Chipping Norton, Vision And Power went on to chalk up some impressive victories in the $400,000 George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1) in April and the prestigious $1.5 million Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1), both contested on soft tracks. As such wet weather has become the thoroughbred's ally.

'Everything is falling into place,' explained Pride. 'We got a few millimetres on Sunday at Warwick Farm and it's been drizzling ever since. The heat's gone as well so it seems we will definitely have a softish track on Saturday which is perfect for him.' Seven out of Vision And Power's ten wins have been on wet tracks.

Vision And Power is one of 10 Gr 1 winners set to contest the Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday, as well as one of 10 nominees who ran in the Apollo Stakes (Gr 2) last Saturday at Sydney's Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. And although Vision could only muster a sixth place finish, his trainer was happy with his run.

The Apollo Stakes was the thoroughbred's first race of the year since he finished out of the placing in last year's Cox Plate (Gr 1) at Moonee Valley Racecourse. As such it was expected that he may need a race to get back in the swing of things. On Saturday he'll be carrying a hefty 55.5kg in weights.