Michelle Payne’s plea for right to tackle the mighty Winx in Cox Plate
MICHELLE Payne has urged Moonee Valley officials to forgive Kaspersky’s inglorious Australian debut and hand the import a slot in Saturday’s Cox Plate.
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MICHELLE Payne has urged Moonee Valley officials to forgive Kaspersky’s inglorious Australian debut and hand the import a slot in Saturday’s Cox Plate.
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey said it would be a “dream come true” to partner Kaspersky in a David and Goliath mission against superstar Winx.
Payne insisted the $81 shot was poised to improved dramatically on his Toorak Handicap 16th, but his fate rests with Moonee Valley Racing Club’s discretionary powers.
The club’s committee meets at 8.30am on Tuesday — 30 minutes after final acceptances — to consider the merits of the expected handful of runners to challenge Winx. Trained by English-based Australian Jane Chapple-Hyam, Kaspersky is one of six Cox Plate acceptors so far.
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The others are $1.15 favourite Winx, Gailo Chop, Happy Clapper, Folkswood and Royal Symphony.
But the field could be boosted to 10 with Humidor, Tom Melbourne, Abbey Marie and Seaburge still in the mix.
“I think he deserves a shot,” jockey-trainer Payne said after winning on one of her horses at Stawell.
The Herald Sun understands Kaspersky is a 50-50 chance of gaining committee approval.
Payne says Kaspersky’s European record of 12 wins, including seven at Group or Listed level, should outweigh his dismal Caulfield display.
“If there are going to be only six or seven in it, it would be crazy not to let him in because he’s got the ability,” Payne said.
“His first-up run here you forget because I think he looked after himself on the firm ground.
“He’s got that X-factor and obviously in these races you need a lot of X-factor because you’re going to be against the great mare Winx.
“He deserves a chance and to have a ride in the Cox Plate would be another dream come true because it’s one of my favourite races.”
Payne, 32, the only female rider to win a Melbourne Cup, on Prince Of Penzance in 2015, would become the first woman to land the Cox Plate if Kaspersky won.
Trainer Darren Weir said Humidor might back up after his Caulfield Cup fifth.
“Talking to (assistant trainer) Jarrod (McLean), we are sort of going into the Melbourne Cup a bit unknown,” Weir said.
“But if we go to the Cox Plate, ride him just a bit different and he runs through the line, we know we’re on track again.”
David Hayes indicated a decision on Seaburge would be made shortly before the acceptance deadline.
The Taj Mahal is unlikely to be an acceptor after Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien confers with owner Lloyd Williams.
Godolphin is confident Cranbourne Cup winner Folkswood can run well against Winx, who is bidding to equal Kingston Town’s record of three Cox Plate triumphs.
“If he can run to the form he showed in Dubai, you’d like to think he can pose some questions to Winx anyway,” assistant trainer Chris Connett said.
“If he can run to that, he’d run a huge race.”
Calm before Valley
IT’s a long way from the tumult of Flemington’s mounting yard on Melbourne Cup day to a modest Monday meeting at Stawell.
But the Old Firm — Michelle and Stevie Payne and Darren Weir — was yesterday back in action at the Wimmera racecourse, albeit in vastly different circumstances to those at Headquarters two years ago.
Then, Michelle Payne etched her name into history as the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner when Prince Of Penzance saluted at 100-1.
Brother Stevie strapped the bolter that day and trainer Weir orchestrated the coup, an achievement he self-effacingly describes as a fluke.
On Monday, the Paynes and Weir operated in different parts of the business.
Now a dual licence-holder, Michelle trained and rode the winner of the 1600m Maiden.
Stevie was there to strap the four runners from her stable.
Proving no venue is immune to his telescopic reach, Weir prepared three of the first five winners before heading to his Maldon farm.
Watched by a sparse crowd — there were 23 spectators in the grandstand as she walked the track before her first ride — Payne strolled almost anonymously into the jockeys’ room.
Her win on Jukila sparked a frisson of interest, especially when she declared the three-year-old son of Lucas Cranach a future star.
“I always laugh and joke that he’s my Derby-Melbourne Cup horse,” Payne said.
“This year is probably a bit soon for him, but in six months, you never know.
“He’s a very nice stayer and we aim high. We can always drop back a bit.”
After finishing out of the placings on Raparee and Duke Of Nottingham, Payne left Billy Egan to partner last-start winner Our Zariah, who missed the money in the last.
All up, it had been a worthwhile, if mixed, day for the Paynes.
Weir was more circumspect about his trio of winners, saying it was always nice to win but, as ever, keeping a lid on things.
The handful of bookies and platoon of tote operators almost outnumbered punters, as off-course wagering again greased racing’s relentless wheels.
By day’s end, Weir and Payne’s minds drifted to Moonee Valley where, depending on circumstance, they might clash at the weekend for racing’s biggest spoils.
The contrast from the wide-open spaces of sleepy Stawell to the electricity of the Valley won’t be lost on either camp.
leo.schlink@news.com.au
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