Trainer Joe Pride was almost singing in the rain when talented mare Sacred Choice scored an upset win over Typhoon Tracy in the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.Pride said he gave Sacred Choice no chance of beating Typhoon Tracy, a five-time Group One winner, until the heavens opened and forced track to be downgraded to the heavy range."I was really scared of the opposition on top of the ground and with all respect to my mare I don't think she could have beaten Typhoon Tracy," Pride said."But

Trainer Joe Pride was almost singing in the rain when talented mare Sacred Choice scored an upset win over Typhoon Tracy in the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington.

Pride said he gave Sacred Choice no chance of beating Typhoon Tracy, a five-time Group One winner, until the heavens opened and forced track to be downgraded to the heavy range.

"I was really scared of the opposition on top of the ground and with all respect to my mare I don't think she could have beaten Typhoon Tracy," Pride said.

"But once this rain came it put us into the picture. We knew it was going to play into our hands."

Corey Brown rode a patient race on the daughter of Choisir who was last early and peeled out around the field approaching the 600m to join the leaders heading into the straight.

Under a hold, the $17 to $21 betting ring drifter dashed clear and with every stride increased her margin to 4-1/2 lengths on the line.

Typhoon Tracy, backed from $2.00 to $1.90, was held up for a run but once in the clear only battled away in the heavy conditions to finish second, 5-1/2 lengths ahead of Hot Danish ($13).

"She deserved to win a big race but to get one like this in one of the biggest mares' race in Australia is a fantastic result," Pride said.

"This is the greatest day's racing and you look forward to it every year normally just to have bet, but to be down here and have a winner is fantastic."

Pride said Sacred Choice liked to have her races spaced and the Myer was her first run since finishing third to Captain Sonador in the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick a month ago.

She had a similar break between runs last autumn before she won the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

"It seems to be a tactic with her," Pride said.

Moody said he was always fearful that the rain would dampen the brilliance of Typhoon Tracy.

"She has never got through it, never handled it, and we were just hoping she was better than them," Moody said.

It was a big disappointment for the stable which had aborted Typhoon Tracy's Cox Plate campaign to target the Myer which she won last year.

Moody said he was unsure about backing Typhoon Tracy up in next Saturday's Group One Emirates Stakes (1600m).

"The owners haven't suggested it," Moody said.

Stewards reported Thousand Guineas winner Yosei, who finished last of the nine runners, failed to handle the conditions.