Vale Paddy Payne Snr
Paddy Payne Snr died on Tuesday aged 90. The horse trainer father of ten raised them alone after his wife Mary died in a car accident in 1986. Eight of the ten siblings have been jockeys, led by G1 Melbourne Cup winner Michelle, while Patrick, Andrew and Michelle have all ventured into training. “He passed away peacefully in his sleep, early this morning at home, he got to have his dying wish,” daughter Therese said on behalf of the Payne family.
“We feel he had a great life and we were happy he was comfortable. We hope he's joined our mum and brother and sisters.” He was portrayed by Sam Neill in the movie Ride Like A Girl.
Half Yours to kick off in Makybe Diva
Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy is keen to see G1 Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) return to the track in Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes. “Obviously, it’s very short of his trip – we just want to see him have a good run and finishing off strongly and passing a few, but he can put in a decent, sharp run this horse,” McEvoy, who trains in partnership with his father Tony, told racing.com.
“He just worked (at Flemington on Tuesday morning) over seven furlongs, improved the last 600m. I think the horse is probably exactly where we want him to be going into a first-up run. He’s nice and forward, he worked very well to the eye which he always does, his action looked superb.”
Waller sends five to G1 Makybe Diva Stakes
Chris Waller is likely to have five runners in Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes with Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) and Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) all galloping at Flemington on Tuesday morning. “(Autumn Boy is) a good miler, a (Caulfield) Guineas winner and James (McDonald) was happy with his first-up run,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“He didn't get a lot of luck over the first 200m at Caulfield (first-up), it's an important race for a colt and especially him. He has come on well, he's fitter for the run and visibly he looks a little bit tighter, which is how I want him to look. A big open space here at Flemington, he'll appreciate it.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“(Birdman and Buckaroo) got home well (in the Memsie) and came through it well. The mile will suit them both better, we may split one of them (for Underwood) … we'll just see how they draw, what the race is like and which one might be held back.” Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvechio) and Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) are the other two from the stable likely for the Makybe Diva.
No internationals remain in Cox Plate
At Tuesday’s first declarations for the G1 Cox Plate, 57 horses remain in contention with no internationally trained horses remaining. There are 31 Group 1 winners in the pool with Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) still heading the early betting. Eleven 3-year-olds have paid up to stay in the running.
Epsom and Flight nominations released
Nominations for the G1 Epsom Handicap and G1 Flight Stakes were released on Tuesday. Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) are the two highest rated entrants among the 93 nominations for the Epsom. The Flight Stakes has 48 nominations.
Emerging star sprinter Oliveanotherday runs Saturday
Tom Dabernig-trained Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) will try to make it six in succession in Saturday’s G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington. “He pulled up well and the one benefit from being held-up first-up, it wasn't a hard run,” Dabernig told racingandsports.com.au of his win in the G3 The Heath.
“I thought if we went straight to the Manikato, it could be a week too long, plus I'm keen to try him down the straight at Flemington before Cup week and this is the ideal time. I didn't want to go to the Manikato a little bit fresh, so at least this way it's two weeks, two weeks, pretty simple, and hopefully this run will then bring him to his top. The 1200 metres, at Caulfield, he's proven there, so it's a target.”
Oliveanotherday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Fangirl likely to go to Anamoe
Owner Debbie Kepitis has said multiple Group 1 winner Fangirl (Sebring) will likely be covered by Anamoe this season after her retirement was announced yesterday. “It’s a little bit sad, but she did us so proud,” Kepitis told racing.com.
“We could keep her going, but she’s just not at her peak. She deserves to go to the paddock, and if we’re lucky enough for her to have a baby, it would be lovely. We’ll see what happens.”
Fangirl ran second to Anamoe in the 2022 G1 Winx Stakes, 2023 G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, and 2023 G1 George Ryder Stakes.
Mating Call future uncertain
Owner and breeder, prominent wine businessman Robert Hill-Smith, will need to make a call on the future of recently crowned South Australian Horse Of The Year and Group 1-placed Mating Call (Brazen Beau). “She's got a little throat issue. We believe to race on she'll need to have a throat operation. Tie back (surgery) possibly,” co-trainer Oopy MacGillivray, who trains with Dan Clarken, told racenet.com.au.
“That's totally in Robert's hands, whether he wants to do the operation and race on. We'll work with whatever he decides. She's obviously got a pretty handy record, and being a mare, there's always that consideration that you might be better to go straight to stud. It's not too late in the season to make that decision. But one thing about Robert Hill-Smith, he just loves his racing, and that's what he wants to do.
“In the next few days we'll get down to the nitty gritty and work out whether there's a suitable stallion that she should go to, or whether we do the operation. Unfortunately, it's obviously the end of a spring campaign, but we would look forward to the autumn.”
Injured jockey update: King
Jockey Rachel King sustained a head knock at Tuesday’s Rosehill barrier trials when Scylla (Extreme Choice) reared at the start. She was cleared by doctors and sent home to rest.
Willaroon Park sold
Sally Watkins has sold Willaroon Park to long-term manager Chris Andersen. “The farm’s on three titles. I’ve kept one title and built a house and they’ve bought the other two titles and taken over the business,” Watkins told thestraight.com.au.
“It’s worked really well. It lets me step back a little bit as I didn’t want to keep working 24/7 like I was. I wanted to have a bit more time and they’re young and enthusiastic and very keen to take over the business. And nobody knows it better than Chris who has been here for a long time (about 15 years). It’s been a really good takeover.”
Debutant winner for Farnan
At Townsville on Tuesday, Jeffrey Caught-trained 3-year-old gelding Far And Wide (Farnan) won on debut. His trainer paid $15,000 for him via Inglis Digital in July 2026.
He is one of three winners for Lusitania (Sepoy), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta De Lago)
Shalaa gelding wins on debut
Gavin Bedggood-trained 3-year-old gelding Shaadrille (Shalaa {Ire}) won on debut at Moe on Tuesday. He was a $26,000 purchase by Bedggood and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Noorilim Park.
A half-brother to Listed winner Ragged Rascal (Denman), he is one of four winners for Listed winner M’Lady Pedrille (Al Maher). She is a full sister to Group 1 winner Diamond Drille and a half-sister to Madame Pedrille (Secret Savings {USA}).
Cummings to saddle first runner in Hong Kong
Trainer James Cummings will have his first runner in Hong Kong when he saddles up Day Day Victory (Deep Field) on Wednesday at Happy Valley. “We're pumped up about getting started. We're prepared to be patient because we have a stable which is really new horse-heavy. So that's going to mean that people should expect to see the strength of our stable towards the second quarter and onwards throughout the season,” Cummings told hkjc.com.
“I'm really pleased with the way my horses are coming along in their training and my new horses are settling into Hong Kong well.”
James Cummings | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Group 1 winner Belle Cheval retired
G1 Vinery Stud Stakes victrix Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) has been retired. “She’s been officially retired from racing after pulling up with a respiratory complaint following her fresh-up run last Saturday,” trainer Mark Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“She was a filly that showed really good talent from day one and grew up a lot during her first preparation. She was a high-class filly that deserved all her success, was very lightly raced, and it was a pleasure to train her for David (Archer) and Diane (Wright), and their family.”
Bred and raced by well-known racing identity David Archer, she won four of her eight starts and over $1.1 million. As well as winning the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes, she placed in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas. She is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
“We have talked to the key players we know here and we are looking to put her to an Australian stallion and then bring her home,” Archer said. “We have had contact from some of the studs in Australia, who rate her extremely highly.
“I have got some very good friends doing the homework for me because as one top man said to me ‘you love your horses so much, one of the big things you have got to do is find the stallion, but find a place where she is going to be kept in cotton wool’. So that is going to be part of the judgment, we want her taken care of and we will give her a big hug when she comes here.
“She has given us a lot of fun and if it wasn’t for a little twist we would have had a lot more fun with her.”
Hip injury rules Bowman out for two meetings
Jockey Hugh Bowman will miss two meetings in Hong Kong after injuring his hip. “I’ve aggravated my right hip and surrounding muscles. I’m in significant pain. I’m hoping with some treatment it will heal soon,” Bowman told scmp.com.
Christmas Day heads St Leger field
Derby hero Christmas Day (Camelot) features among 12 confirmations for the 250th Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.
Aidan O'Brien's colt is the 13-8 favourite with Betfred to become the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to win both the premier Classic at Epsom and the world's oldest Classic on Town Moor.
The son of Camelot – who himself was memorably denied the Triple Crown by Encke in the 2012 St Leger – is set to be joined by several stablemates on Town Moor, with the Ballydoyle handler also leaving in Action (Frankel), Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Basilica), Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) and the only filly in the potential field, Amelia Earhart (Camelot).
“We've always aimed to have 30,000 people here on St Leger Saturday,” clerk of the course David Attwood said. “That is still very much the aim for us and it's looking like we're going to achieve that.
“We've adapted the site to cater for 30,000 people. We've made enclosures bigger and we've enhanced the parade ring as well, so you'll see a new winner's enclosure and a new podium, so we can celebrate the Leger winner in style. Prestige, Premier and County are all sold out for Saturday. We've still got some limited hospitality and there are tickets available in Grandstand and Picnic.”
Frankel filly supplemented for Tattersalls October
A Frankel filly out of the G2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes winner Queen Power (Shamardal) has been added to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale as a wildcard. Catalogued as lot 196A, the chestnut filly will be consigned by Ed Player's Whatton Manor Stud.
The three-time winner Queen Power is a full-sister to the Group 2 scorer and multiple Group 1-placed Puissance de Lune and a half to the G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Zabeel Prince (Lope De Vega). She is also a half-sister to the dams of the multiple Group 1 winners Field Of Gold (Kingman) and Rizeena (Iffraaj).
“We are very excited to offer this exceptionally good-looking filly from one of the most contemporary families in the stud book,” said Player. “She will undoubtedly appeal to both owners and breeders, representing a rare opportunity to acquire a filly with such a wonderful pedigree.”
Medoro adds Grade 2 win
Just one race after Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. got a 'TDN Rising Star' on closing day at Del Mar with 2-year-old colt Imperial Honor, Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, who raced Honor A. P. and campaigned him to a GI Santa Anita Derby victory, won the GII John C. Mabee Stakes with Medoro (Honor Code), their mare by Honor A. P.'s expatriated sire. The final graded event at Del Mar this summer season, the John C. Mabee was worth the wait as Medoro–runner-up in the race last year–outfooted heavy favourite Thought Process (Collected) in a battle to the wire.
“Juan [Hernandez] had her in such a good spot,” said winning trainer Peter Eurton. “He said down the backside he thought he had to go get [Thought Process] early and what a kick she had today. Anytime she wins it's nice, especially here back home in a Grade II. It feels good.”
