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Payne to keep on juvenile bandwagon

Monday 6 July 2009
By Mandy Cottell

David Payne is enjoying a vintage run with his two-year-olds but that hasn't converted to an increased number of babies for next season.

The former champion South African trainer estimated his youngsters had won around 13 races, highlighted by promising colt More Than Great's dominant Rosehill victory on Saturday.

It's a tremendous effort considering Payne only has around 20 juveniles on his books and given his success he might have expected to have at least that number again when the new season begins on August 1.

"Actually, this year it looks like we're going to have less babies," Payne said.

"But hopefully it will be quality rather than quantity."

Payne will be out to add to his tally of juvenile winners at Randwick on Saturday and has nominated three youngsters for the 1400 metre two-year-old race.

While last start placegetter Anchor Bolt is likely to be saved for Warwick Farm on Tuesday, Payne will be represented by either first starter More Valour or promising filly Magic Model.

"Just one will run, I haven't decided which one at this stage," he said.

The well-bred More Valour is by More Than Ready, sire of the past two Golden Slipper winners, out of Valourina making her a half-sister to stakes winners Media and Timbourina.

"She's from a good family and is a nice type of filly," Payne said.

He also has plenty of time for Magic Model who wasn't disgraced when midfield in the Sweet Embrace Stakes won by Headway in March before resuming with a narrow victory at Rosehill last month.

"I thought it was a good effort to win first-up over 1400 metres in the mud," Payne said.

"She can only improve from that.

"I've got her in the Golden Rose so we'll see if she's good enough."

Magic Model is a daughter of Choisir and shares the same sire as stablemate and 2006 Gimcrack Stakes winner Hurried Choice.

"They're the only two fillies by Choisir that I've trained so hopefully I'll have some luck with this one as well," Payne said.

The Australian Jockey Club has received more than 130 nominations for the eight-race card on Saturday with the 1200m Open Handicap attracting a handy list of entries headed by Stan Fox Stakes winner Dreamscape from the Gai Waterhouse stable and promising Chris Waller-trained gelding Rangirangdoo.

Waterhouse is again light on numbers with just three horses entered while Peter Snowden, who trails her by just 1-1/2 wins in the Sydney trainers' premiership, is likely to have weight of numbers on his side with 12 nominations.