 Australia Expert - Patrick Payne |
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| 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 Caulfield Cup Day (Patrick Payne)
S1-1 David Jones Cup
BAGMAN’s South Australian form is very progressive and looks up to a race of this nature. The winner of numerous Listed races, his run in last Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup was outstanding and that puts him firmly in the reckoning here.
Even though he seems to have had an interrupted preparation, SHEWAN races well at Caulfield and may represent value to bounce back to the kind of form that saw him winning a Group 2 at this track a year ago.
Sydney raider LIGHTINTHENITE ran fourth in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap two weeks back despite having no luck in running. He steps up to this distance for the first time but shrewd connections reckon he’ll cope so include him in your multiples.
EXTRA ZERO is another who reserves his best for this venue and providing he has a trouble-free run he can figure in the placings, while PROLIFERATE is steadily finding his best form through his preparation and if the pace is strong, as seems likely, he can finish off strongly from the rear of the field into at least a minor cut of the prize.
SELECTIONS: 2. BAGMAN, 4. SHEWAN, 5. LIGHTINTHENITE, 3. EXTRA ZERO & 10. PROLIFERATE
S1-2 BMW Caulfield Cup
British import GLENCADAM GOLD is 4 out of 4 since resuming his career in Australia and the front-running stayer and has looked increasingly impressive with each start, especially winning the Group 1 AJC Metropolitan last time out. His wide draw isn’t kind but the rail is pushed out 6 meters from its default position and this should suit on-speed runners and as such he looks the one to beat.
DECEMBER DRAW fractured a hind leg when favourite for this race a year ago but the tough overseas import has come back well this spring and looked ready to peak for this assignment when a fast-finishing third in both the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and Underwood Stakes recently and this longer distance will suit.
SECRET ADMIRER has a habit of getting too far back in the run and then finishing strongly but too late and has to settle for less than she’s worth. But she’s racing really well and I feel she’ll be close again.
LIGHTS OF HEAVEN appears a better individual this time around than last year and was under the radar when third in prep at Randwick last month. This has been the target all season and the draw has been favourable so she warrants consideration.
DUNADEN races in Australia for the first time since his Melbourne Cup victory a year ago and has since proven too strong at level weights in the Hong Kong Vase so his class is all too obvious. His most recent effort in the much stronger King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July was pretty solid and he simply can’t be underestimated from the top of the weights. Had he not drawn so wide he would have been higher up this list.
SELECTIONS: 9. GLENCADAM GOLD, 5. DECEMBER DRAW, 13. SECRET ADMIRER, 12. LIGHTS OF HEAVEN & 2. DUNADEN
S1-3 Yellowglen Tristarc Stakes
RED TRACER is a very smart Sydney mare who won impressively last start in a Group 2 against male rivals so this test against her own sex finds her well placed. Trainer Chris Waller is having a stellar season and knows what is required to win in Melbourne.
Top jockey Glen Boss takes the ride on the improving LUCKY PENNY who has drawn well and has impressed at this course and distance before.
RASPBERRIES is back to a distance that could be a little short of her best and while the riding tactics vary with this mare. I hope the wide gate forces connections to take her forward and her stamina and battling qualities put her in the frame.
Another to factor in is SOFT SAND who we saw run 2nd at this course and trip in February in an identical grade. From an inside draw with a good rider up you’re likely to see another prominent showing.
SELECTIONS: 4. RED TRACER, 12. LUCKY PENNY, 5. RASPBERRIES & 11. SOFT SAND
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