A sudden thunderstorm at Sandown nearly cost the pricey Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly, Conscience, a winning debut.

A lightning delay lasting 90 minutes, along with 12mm of rain before Wednesday’s IVE> Handicap (1000m), kept the two-year-olds waiting in the tie-up stalls before stewards ultimately decided to proceed with racing.

Trainer Peter Moody was concerned about the track downgrade but was relieved to see the $1.4 million yearling, a half-sister to Espionage, narrowly prevail.

“It’s always great when these well-bred, high-priced fillies deliver,” Moody said.

“We all know how hit-and-miss expensive horses can be. We bought her expecting an early type.

“She’s got the physique for it, but she’s taken a bit longer to come to hand than we thought, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we give her another break.

“She’ll be very well suited to the early-season three-year-old filly races.”

Conscience settled further back than expected, but Moody was encouraged by the acceleration she showed late.

“She got back more than I wanted, but she displayed a turn of foot that suggests she has a Stakes future ahead.”

Moody revealed he had considered debuting Conscience in last Saturday’s Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington but opted against it.

“I thought she was one gallop short, so she had a hit-out instead,” he said.

“Saturday’s race was a glorified maiden. I had three horses entered—I sent one to Adelaide, ran another, and saved her for this.

“That extra gallop nearly cost her. She looked like she’d win by three (lengths) but ran out of steam in the last 100 metres.

“At least she’s on her way to repaying her price tag. Now that she’s a city winner, if she can get a Stakes win, she’ll be worth a couple of million at any broodmare sale worldwide.”

The Moody and Coleman team later secured a winning double when Codigo took out the Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap.

Codigo is owned by Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud, who partnered with Moody to race I Wish I Win, the star galloper retired on Wednesday after pulling up ‘jarry’ following a track gallop.

The dramatic Sandown meeting was ultimately abandoned at 6:27 pm with three races remaining after multiple jockeys reported their horses slipping near the 700m mark of the Sportsbet Get On Extra Handicap (1800m), won by She’s A Hustler.