Australia Expert - Patrick Payne

Patrick Payne is currently a trainer in Australia and a well known former jockey in Hong Kong. He is a member of an extraordinary racing family comprising of eight successful jockeys. Having various stints between 1994 and 2004 in Hong Kong, he achieved his highest strike rate of 14.8%. As a champion jockey with a career that began in 1990, Payne rode more than 1000 winners, with 19 Group One race wins, including the Cox Plate. In 2007, he acquired his Australian trainer license, winning races such as Mornington Cup and Adelaide Cup.

Overseas Expert Column for Melbourne Cup Day (Patrick Payne)

S1-1 Schweppes Tonic 1000 

MAGNIER drops back in trip having been too keen in recent races over further distances and has the ability to be a factor in this flat-out dash.

MALASUN has found the competition a bit tough in her last couple of starts but this is more of her level and can be involved. 

THE TRAVELLING MAN won a Listed race as a 2-year-old but his form has tapered off a little although he has enough about him to be in the frame here, especially with the blinkers on for the first time.   

GENTEEL won an easier race than this in a provincial racecourse in New South Wales last start and is going the right way. It's worth noting that her top trainer is prepared to take her down from Sydney for this test.  

SELECTIONS:
3 MAGNIER
2 MALASUN
1 THE TRAVELLING MAN
6 GENTEEL

S1-2 Lexus Hybrid Plate

ANGELIC LIGHT has come from the provincial tracks and was super impressive last start at Moonee Valley and seems destined for higher grades. 

CIAO ran a close second in a race similar to this and should be respected.

BENENDEN has done nothing wrong winning her last two races and on that evidence she will be in the mix.

BALACLAVA LADY, who is back on her home track, has a rough chance to figure.

SELECTIONS:
3 ANGELIC LIGHT
6 CIAO
12 BENENDEN
5 BALACLAVA LADY

S1-3 Emirates Melbourne Cup

RED CADEAUX, an agonizingly close runner-up to DUNADEN in the 2011 renewal, is better weighted against the same rival this time and his preparation has been more refined, so to exclude him will be in great peril.  He has proven that he can race fresh and will be patiently ridden so his wide gate is no major hindrance.

Time may show MOUNT ATHOS as the best handicapped runner in the race. Master trainer Luca Cumani has twice been the runner-up here (once by a nose) and he reckons this could be the one to finally get ahead. It is very interesting that he's been kept fresh. 

France has won the last two runnings of this great race and I suspect its last two winners will again be in the finish. It all happened a bit too quickly for AMERICAIN after a wide enough trip in the Caulfield Cup a couple of weeks ago but his final sprint time home was still decent. His unique late speed, combined with proven stamina makes him very hard to beat.

Last year's winner, DUNADEN amazed us with how he came from nearly last to first at Caulfield and of course warrants the greatest respect. Such is his talent, he could well win again but he has crept that bit higher again in the weights and it might just prevent back-to-back wins.  His class is undeniable, however. 

And with the fuss over those higher up in the scale, GALILEO'S CHOICE may have crept under the radar. His excellent Irish trainer Dermot Weld has won this race twice and this horse has the profile to surprise.   

SELECTIONS:
4 RED CADEAUX
8 MOUNT ATHOS
2 AMERICAIN
1 DUNADEN
12 GALILEO'S CHOICE

S1-4 Diamond Jubilee Plate

MR CHARD is an underrated galloper and could run well at possibly decent odds from his inside gate. His most recent run was pretty good and looks a valid each-way play in an open race. 

The lightly weighted MENADOS is better suited back at Flemington, while LIGHTINTHENITE is very talented and we saw him winning the Group 3 David Jones Cup at Caulfield two weeks ago but he has to shoulder top weight. 

GREY ASSIGNMENT has won four of his last five starts and has shipped from Brisbane specifically for this race and that seems a tip in itself.

ECLAIR SURPRISE is also going well and would be the other one for exotics. 

SELECTIONS:
9 MR CHARD
13 MENADOS
1 LIGHTINTHENITE
5 GREY ASSIGNMENT
11 ECLAIR SURPRISE

DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):

S1-3:  
Banker - 4 RED CADEAUX 
Selections - 8 MOUNT ATHOS, 2 AMERICAIN, 1 DUNADEN & 12 GALILEO'S CHOICE

S1-4:  
Banker -  9 MR CHARD
Selections - 13 MENADOS, 1 LIGHTINTHENITE, 5 GREY ASSIGNMENT & 11 ECLAIR SURPRISE

S1-5 MSS Security Sprint

Quite an open race here and the tentative pick is SEA LORD since he is very fit, honest and tough. 

TOO MANY REDS is running well nationwide and his latest trainer is getting the best out of him.

FAMOUS SEAMUS won his last race, a Listed event in Sydney, and a repeat of that performance makes him a firm contender.

EXCELLANTES' last two runs have been solid and he's for the multiple bets.

SELECTIONS: 
7 SEA LORD
8 TOO MANY REDS
6 FAMOUS SEAMUS
3 EXCELLANTES

S1-6 Rating 0-89 Handicap

Big watch on AERONAUTICAL here who won a similar race to this last time in Sydney. He's in good form who has drawn fine and his top jockey Corey Brown knows him well.

I have to confess a particular interest in HOT LOVER since I train him! I certainly would not stop you backing him for the win and place and quinellas. He goes well fresh and has prepared nicely. I am very happy with him.  

SNITSKY has won five of his nine starts to date and has only once been out of the first four and that was on debut. He has an awkward gate to contend with but he rates a serious player.  

A Listed winner over 1800 metres, CORNELL resumes after a spell (he bled last time out) but his freshness will serve him well and I expect him to finish strongly. 

SELECTIONS:
2 AERONAUTICAL
13 HOT LOVER
9 SNITSKY
6 CORNELL

TREBLE SELECTIONS (24 unit bets):
S1-4:   Multiple - 9 MR CHARD, 13 MENADOS, 1 LIGHTINTHENITE & 5 GREY ASSIGNMENT
S1-5:   Multiple - 7 SEA LORD, 8 TOO MANY REDS & 6 FAMOUS SEAMUS
S1-6:   Multiple - 2 AERONAUTICAL & 13 HOT LOVER

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