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.

Expert Column for Caulfield Cup Day (S1-1 to S1-3) (Patrick Payne)

S1-1 Moonga Stakes


From Godolphin's powerful stable, VASHKA comes to Melbourne for the first time after winning a strong last start in Sydney. The form looks good but the key here is barrier 4, from where the lightly raced five-year-old should get a perfect run.

Even though UNDER THE LOUVRE came up with a wide draw on the tricky 1,400m Caulfield course, the class performer looks otherwise suited here. The Robert Smerdon-trained sprinter looked the winner in a G1 event last time out, only to be beaten by a narrow margin. He will be ridden cold and hitting the line hard late.

Getting an ideal run up on the speed with gun rider Craig Williams aboard will be WORTHY CAUSE. This colt is race-fit and in top form with two wins from three starts this preparation, including a tough victory over 1,400m last start.

Country-trained sprinter SETINUM comes off a solid run from a wide gate in a race where the tempo worked against him. Better suited here from barrier 2 and could be excellent value for exotics.



SELECTIONS: 4. VASHKA, 8. UNDER THE LOUVRE, 6. WORTHY CAUSE & 9. SETINUM


S1-2 Tristarc Stakes


Crowd favourite CATKINS is the class runner in this race and is perfectly suited by the set weights plus penalties conditions. Forgive her last start failure, she put in an enormous effort first-up and it may have flattened her. Has a great record at G2 level and top jockey Damien Oliver aboard.

SABATINI is a high quality mare that is nearing peak fitness. She has notched a nice win resuming at the track last time out and won a similarly strong race second-up last preparation. She has won at G2 level over the course and distance.

HAZARD is third run into a preparation where she has had no luck with barrier draws. Finally draws a decent gate from where top jockey James McDonald should get a box seat position.

GREGERS is a consistent sprinter likely to get a favourable run from her draw. The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable is flying. The extra distance may be a query.



SELECTIONS: 2. CATKINS, 6. SABATINI, 5. HAZARD & 3. GREGERS


S1-3 Caulfield Cup


In what is an open race containing some world-class international raiders, classy New Zealand-trained stayer MONGOLIAN KHAN is still undoubtedly the horse to beat. Won the New Zealand Derby and Australian Derby over the race distance of 2,400m earlier in the year and has had the perfect preparation heading into this. Eye-catching third at weight-for-age (the G1 Caulfield Stakes) last start.

Damien Oliver has committed to ride SNOW SKY in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, so take that as a sign of this European-trained stayer's credentials. Weighted up to his best but oozes class and came up with a good draw.

Hugely talented four-year-old HAURAKI chased home MONGOLIAN KHAN in the Australian Derby in April and meets him better at the weights here. Perhaps unlucky to be narrowly defeated by stablemate COMPLACENT last start. The Godolphin team is flying, as is stable jockey James McDonald.

Lightweight GUST OF WIND will be ridden by Hong Kong-based jockey Chad Schofield and looms as a knockout hope. The G1 ATC Oaks winner in April has presented well in the yard before each of her starts this time in but has raced without luck.

RISING ROMANCE was runner-up in this race last year and looks like getting a lovely run from barrier 2.



SELECTIONS: 6. MONGOLIAN KHAN, 2. SNOW SKY, 12. HAURAKI, 16. GUST OF WIND & 14. RISING ROMANCE




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