For all round horseman David Payne a bit of luck wouldn’t go astray. A one time lethal jockey, a champion trainer, who knocked up winning premierships in his native South Africa, Payne is gearing up for a big Saturday Randwick.
“If luck goes our way we could have a good day,” Payne said on Friday.
Heading the team is the one time “ugly duckling” Rock Hero which will be joined in the group 1 Spring Champion Stakes by stablemate Criterion.
Not prone to over hype thoroughbreds Payne described Rock Hero as “very good” while warning Criterion “will be in the money”.
Owned and bred by Payne loyalist Jon Cordina, Rock Hero has been to the races five times and is looking to complete a winning hat-trick.
“He has a stride from here to tomorrow,” Payne said.
“That is his biggest advantage, takes one stride to their two. A big actioned horse, his mother was a big actioned horse, Gallant Tess had a very big stride and I think he has a bigger one, a massive one.”
Little wonder Cordina opted not to put the son of super sire Fastnet Rock through the sale ring.
“Jon was going to sell him but he was such an immature baby, he wouldn’t have got much for him,” Payne said.
“He wasn’t impressive as a baby, a big awkward buggar but he has grown into himself with maturity.
“A lovely mover, always been a smoothed action horse. He is a nice smooth moving horse for his size, usually they can be clumsy, he is not clumsy.
“You will get big striding horses, some stride further than others and it makes a difference, six inches longer, it all adds up when galloping.”
Criterion has been to the races on nine occasions and won three times.
“He is in with a chance, he’ll be in the first three for sure,” Payne said.
“He has been crying out for the distance, crying out for the 2000m.”
Payne named Savvy Nature, Complacent and Drago as the dangers but has no doubt “mine are up there with them”.
“They both have chances in a group 1, quite rare to have two chances in a group 1,” Payne said.
In the opening event Payne saddles up Diamond Jim while Lilliburlero goes round in the last race.
“Lili, we’re looking for a bit of black type, she’ll be around the money,” Payne said.
“Diamond Jim will be competitive for he has 51kg, it is a big advantage and he’ll be there abouts.”
Stable stalwart Centennial Park will be in action at Caulfield.
“The old boy is in the Toorak and he has an outside chance,” Payne said. “You just need a bit of luck.”
By Craig Young
