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Randwick Inside Mail: Trainer David Payne shoots for 2025 Light Fingers Stakes upset with Shohisha

David Payne is about to undergo hip surgery but there will be a spring in his step if Shohisha can cause an upset in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes on Saturday.

Ray Thomas
4 min read
February 14, 2025 - 2:00PM
G1 Lightning Stakes day | Via Sistina v Ceolwulf | 12 'Self-trumpeter' votes dished out

The maestro David Payne is about to undergo hip surgery but there will be a spring in his step if Shohisha can cause an upset in the Group 2 $300,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Shohisha is rated a $17 chance in overnight TAB Fixed Odds betting for the feature three-year-old fillies race where Group 1 winners Lady Shenandoah ($3.10 favourite), Lady Of Camelot ($3.20) and Manaal ($5) dominate the top end of the market.

But Payne is quietly confident promising Shohisha, winner of two of her four starts, can hold her own against the best fillies in training.

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“I’m sure Shohisha can run very well,’’ Payne said. “I don’t know how good she is but she is a lovely filly.

“It’s a tough race and this will be a big test for her but she has a race fitness edge.

“My jockey (Chad Schofield) is in form so with a bit of luck, who knows?”

Shohisha, who scored a comfortable win against older horses in a Rosehill Midway last start, should get the run of the race from barrier two.

• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday

Payne also has Rag Queen ($151) in the Light Fingers Stakes but conceded the filly would be tested at this level.

“She’s probably better suited over a little further,’’ Payne said of Rag Queen. “She’s working well so we will give a chance on Saturday and see how she goes.’’

Payne has already orchestrated an upset result in the Light Finger Stakes when his filly Rock Me Baby held off champion Samantha Miss to win the feature in 2007.

The master trainer revealed he is due to enter hospital on Wednesday for hip replacement surgery.

Trainer David Payne. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Trainer David Payne. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

“I’m in a lot of pain so I can’t wait to have the operation,’’ he said.

“I’ve had both my knees done before so I sort of know what I’m in for but I need to get this done because my hip is causing me a lot of discomfort.

“Fortunately, I’ve got good staff who can keep the stable going while I’m having the surgery but hopefully I will be back at work very soon.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: Apollo Stakes at Randwick, Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington

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RANDWICK BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Catch The Glory $5-$3.60, All Too Lucky $21-$11
Race 2: Adolphus $6-$4, Tapa Kick $5-$4.80, Dale $11-$8
Race 3: Pallaton $3.20-$2.40 with a bet of $4000 at $2.30, Skyhook $8.50-$7
Race 4: Yorkshire $2.90-$2.40 with a bet of $2000 at $2.40, Medatsu $26-$13
Race 5: Joliestar $2.50-$2.70-$2.50 with bets of $5000 at $2.40, $4000 at $2.70, $4000 at $2.50, $3000 at $2.40, Magic Time $3.60-$2.90-$3.20, Iowna Merc $15-$6.50
Race 6: Clear Thinking $5-$3.80, Commemorative $6-$5 with a bet of $2500 at $5, Spring Lee $8-$5
Race 7: Lady Of Camelot $4.40-$3.30, Manaal $6-$5
Race 8: Via Sistina $2.40-$2 with bets of $10000 at $2, $4500 at $2, $4000 at $2.10, Fangirl $4.20-$3.80 with a bet of $2000 at $4.20
Race 9: Disneck $6-$5 including a bet of $5000 at $5.50, French Endeavour $8-$7, Lavish Empire $26-$12
Race 10: Perfumist $2.80-$1.95

• Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: X-factor filly to cause an upset

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,2,5
Race 4: 1,4,7,18
Race 5: 2,5
Race 6: 2,4,7,10

QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2,3
Race 8: 1,5,6
Race 9: 1,9,11,14
Race 10: 6,7,8,14

• ‘It’s going to be tactical’: Pride’s Apollo plan for ‘extremely exciting’ Ceolwulf

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PRICE CHECK

JOLIESTAR (Race 5) has been heavily backed and is firm $2.50 favourite after bets of $5000 at $2.40, $4000 at $2.70, $4000 at $2.50 and $3000 at $2.40 but this hasn’t stopped rivals MAGIC TIME ($3.60-$3.20) and IOWNA MERC ($15-$6.50) being significant firmers in the Triscay Stakes.

• Ray & Duff’s Randwick tips: Joliestar ‘ready to explode’

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TRIAL POINTERS

LADY SHENANDOAH (Race 7) was spelled after winning the Group 1 Flight Stakes in a canter at just her fourth race start back in spring. Exciting filly who has had two barrier trials to prepare for her return including her dominant win over Switzerland in a Warwick Farm 900m heat late last month. Lady Shenandoah looks airborne at the trials and it is no surprise she has been backed into favouritism for the Light Fingers Stakes.

CEOLWULF (Race 8) ended his spring campaign with stunning Group 1 wins in the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes. He looks to be back in great order as evidenced by his two barrier trial efforts in recent weeks, particularly his comfortable win over Via Sistina and Fangirl two weeks ago. The trio clash again in the Apollo Stakes with Ceolwulf ready to sprint well fresh.

• Racing Confidential: Carrousel comeback on hold

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SECTIONAL STARS

UNITED STATES (Race 3) was forced wide on the turn but powered home his final 600m in a fast 33.31s to just miss catching Open Secret at Randwick. United States ran his closing 200m in a brilliant 11.47s, the best of the day. The only horse to run faster for the final 600m at that meeting was NORDIC VIKING in the same race, finishing the closest of thirds with his closing sectional of 33.14s including a final 200m in 11.52s. They clash again in the Pierro Plate.

YISKA (Race 9) had five weeks between runs but it didn’t cause him any concern with a fast-finishing effort to reel in Hezdarnhottoo. Yiska appreciated being ridden conservatively early before unleashing an impressive burst of acceleration, recording 33.78s for his final 600m including a closing 200m sectional of 11.66s.

• ‘She looks such a brute at the moment’: Warning to Via Sistina’s Apollo rivals

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BEST BET

PERFUMIST (Race 10) is in a rich vein of form, reeling off four successive wins over summer – and she seems to be getting better with every start. She ripped around the Rosehill 1500m to easily beat Oh Diamond Lil and the form has been franked with the runner-up winning her next start. Perfumist drops back slightly in distance to the Randwick 1400m, a course and distance she won over easily two starts back. Perfumist gets in well at the weights after the claim and is set to continue her winning momentum.

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VALUE

DISNECK (Race 9), trained by Bjorn Baker and a stablemate of Perfumist, was the form sprinter of the Sydney summer reeling off three Randwick 1200m wins in succession before going to stakes level at Rosehill and running on strongly to finish a close fourth to Willaidow. He’s back to his favourite track and right grade on Saturday, the 1300m won’t trouble him, and he’s advantaged by apprentice Anna Roper’s 3kg claim. Disneck is value around $6.

Originally published as Randwick Inside Mail: Trainer David Payne shoots for 2025 Light Fingers Stakes upset with Shohisha

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/tips/randwick-inside-mail-trainer-david-payne-shoots-for-2025-light-fingers-stakes-upset-with-shohisha/news-story/db9e833a7892c426e4fc04c25c42fe08