David Payne is confident the in-form Mahagoni can overcome his weighty impost and claim the Four Pillars
In-form gelding Mahagoni has a big weight but trainer David Payne is banking on his class to carry him to victory in the Four Pillars.
Trainer David Payne is at Flemington readying star mare Montefilia for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but he will be watching with interest the running of the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Payne has Mahagoni with topweight of 64kg and Adios Steve in the Four Pillars, while stablemate and third emergency Tympanist is trying to squeeze into the 20-horse field.
It’s rare for a horse to carry such a big burden as Mahagoni will do on Saturday but it was only last week when Zoushack won under 64.5kg at the Warwick Farm midweeks. Champion jockey Hugh Bowman rode Zoushack and will partner Mahagoni in the Four Pillars.
“I wasn’t going to run Mahagoni but then I looked at the (weight) spread and the limit is 56kg so it’s not too bad,” Payne said.
“If it was a wet track I would have scratched but it’s going to be a dry track and in those conditions, I still think Mahagoni will be hard to beat. He’s a nice horse.”
Mahagoni has won two of his last three starts while Adios Steve is also in very good touch and is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the Four Pillars.
“Adios Steve will run well but I don’t know if he is as good as Mahagoni,” Payne said.
Tympanist has been improved by one run from a spell but Payne concedes the gelding is unlikely to gain a start.
“The race is worth $500,000, it’s great money so I’d like to run all three but I doubt Tympanist will get in. He’s an outside chance if he does,” Payne said.
Meanwhile, Payne said Montefilia has thrived since her very good fourth in the Caulfield Cup and believes the mare is at the peak of form and condition for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Rosehill Gardens for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1100m: 2,3,1,5
1200m: 2,7,1,3
1300m: 2,3,5,8
1500m: 5,4,1,2
1900m: 4,3,1,7
2000m: 4,5,1,2
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: King Gutho $7.50-$5.50
Race 2: Va Via $8-$9-$4.20-$3.10 after bets of $1,000 at $3.40, $870 at $3.30, $910 at $3.20, $1,000 at $3.10
Race 3: Waterford $2.50-$2.40-$1.95 after bets of $1,250 at $2.50, $1,430 at $2.40, $900 at $2.40, $500 at $2.40 twice, $1,600 at $2.30, $5,000 at $2.25 twice, $1,200 at $2.20, $1,000 at $2.20, $2,000 at $1.95, Miss Madison $15-$9.50-$11
Race 4: Greek Hero $26-$14
Race 5: Destination $16-$18-$15 including a bet of $1,000 e/w at $18/$4.20, Winning Verse $4.60-$3.50-$3.60-$3.10 after bets of $550/$600 e/w at $4.60/$1.85, $556 at $4.60,
$300 at $3.90
Race 6: Yonkers $18-$13-$14, Lord Ardmore $26-$19-$21, Toomuchtobear $71-$26-$31
Race 7: Private Eye $6-$5 including a big bet of $10,800 at $5.50, Lost And Running $2.90-$2.60 with bets of $4,000 at $2.90, $1,000 at $2.80, $1,500 at $2.70, Rocketing By $51-$31
Race 8: In The Congo $15-$8.50-$11, I Wish I Win $11-$9.50-$11 including a wager of $4,500/$10,000 e/w at $11/$3.60, Light Infantry $6-$4-$3.20 with bets of $750 at $6, $500 at $6, $500 at $5 multiple times, $600 at $4.50, $1,000 at $4.50, $500 at $4.50, $2,000 at $4, $1,500 at $4, $750 at $4, Chain Of Lightning $11-$6 with bets of $500 at $7, $1,000 at $6, $500 at $6, $1,100 at $5.50
Race 9: Kayobi $4.60-$3.80
Race 10: Cotehele 9.50-$7, I Am Lethal $7-$5.50-$6, Savoury $23-$19-$21
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,4,5
Race 4: 3,5,10
Race 5: 3,7,9
Race 6: 7,8,10,15
QUADDIE
Race 7: 2,3,4,7
Race 8: 3,6,12,17
Race 9: 1,3,10,17
Race 10: 5,6,9,11
PRICE CHECK
Light Infantry (race 8) continues to be heavily backed to win the Golden Eagle. The English raider has firmed from $6 into $3.20 and the money keeps coming. Some of the bets include $750 at $6, $500 at $6, $500 at $5 multiple times, $600 at $4.50, $1,000 at $4.50, $500 at $4.50, $2,000 at $4, $1,500 at $4 and $750 at $4.
TRIAL POINTERS
Sungblue (race 1) lines up in his fourth TAB Highway on Saturday. The Brett Cavanough-trained son of Your Song was third at his first Highway, fifth at the next one and won his third Highway at Royal Randwick on May 28. Sungblue has won from 1100m to 1400m, one of his two career wins was on debut suggesting that he goes well fresh. He wasn’t asked to do much at all in his October 13 trial at Scone clocking in an unhurried three and a half lengths from the winner.
Kolding (race 7) will forever hold the honour of being the inaugural Golden Eagle winner. That huge payday, along with some other notable wins, has Kolding’s current earnings set at $6.6 million off a $170,000 outlay at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2017. Kolding is up against some Everest horses in Saturday’s Nature Strip Stakes but the seven-year-old son of Ocean Park is looking as spritely as he ever has been in his October trials at Warwick Farm and Rosehill respectively.
SECTIONAL STARS
Chain Of Lightning (race 8) has a fabulous strike-rate, near perfect in fact, with six wins and a third from her seven starts. The daughter of the unbeaten Fighting Sun has collected the Group 3 Cockram and Group 2 Tristarc Stakes inside her last three outings, both wins coming with comfortable margins. Just to show how far she has come in her time, Chain Of Lighting’s debut was on New Year’s Day at Inverell where she won $15,100. If successful on Saturday, she will pocket $5,250,000.
Kayobi (race 9) is a genuinely exciting horse who has hit his peak at the perfect time given the opportunity to take home the lion’s share of the $500,000 in the Four Pillars Midway (1500m). The Sam Kavanagh-trained gelding has raced five times, for three wins and two seconds - noting that one of the seconds was behind Economics at Scone. Kayobi left the others standing at Kembla last start when sprinting away to win in the manner of a horse going places.
BEST BET
Mars Mission (race 5) drew wide and got back in the field early before finishing fast for a close third at the Warwick Farm midweeks when resuming earlier this month. The Team Hawkes-trained sprinter got into an awkward position and didn’t have a lot of galloping room in the straight and was a touch unlucky. Mars Mission strips fitter, will be better suited on the drier Rosehill track, is drawn to get the perfect run and is well in at the weights after the claim. Promising sprinter and ready to win.
VALUE BET
Gypsy Goddess (race 8) ended her three-year-old season winning the Queensland Oaks and has been deliberately prepared to go first-up into the Golden Eagle. She is unbeaten fresh and has the blinkers on to ensure she is sharp enough for the 1500m. The race will be run at a frenetic pace which will suit the fast-finishing Gypsy Goddess. She’s a good each way bet at $17.
THE JUDGMENT
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R6: Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “He looks nice odds, and he’ll be a yard watch, but I give newcomer Star of India a good chance. This lightly raced import brings with him some nice European form, certainly good enough to see him figure here. Honeycreeper is a mare in great form, she’ll get back in the run but will be charging home late. Quality Time is also racing well, but is this his main target or The Big Dance on Tuesday? Stockman could do with more rain but is classy and is getting ready for the Melbourne Cup.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I thought the value around Yonkers here was strong. Dry track is imperative to his improved chances. Chased home a potential star in Gunstock last start on a soft track and that was only his third run in from a spell. Ready to peak here with the services of Frankie Dettori.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Winning form is good form and Quality Time has won three on the trot. The drying track means barrier one won’t be an issue and he looks hard to beat. Stablemate Yonkers is a horse that will enjoy the dryer conditions and world class jockey Frankie Dettori rides. Happy to back him each way at double figure odds.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Some real unknowns here with a handful of internationals thrown in. We’re happy to lay Quality Time who looked like he may have come to the end of his prep last time out at Port Macquarie. We’ve seen some support for Yonkers at a price $17-$12 for Frankie Dettori and Polly Grey $13-$11.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “The most even betting race of the day at Rosehill. My money is with the two imports - Bois D’Argent and Star Of India - although there hasn’t been much early interest.”
Verdict: Yonkers
R7: Nature Strip Stakes (1300m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I want to be with Lost And Running. Sure, he’s the favourite, but he gets a beautiful run from his barrier, and he’ll be just a little fresher than his opposition. With the Sydney Sprint Series bonus still up for grabs, Mazu has plenty to race for and looks a serious danger. Masked Crusader will get a firm track and with Tommy Berry back on board will be flying late. Rocketing By is big odds again, his last start win was no fluke.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Lost And Running was regarded as the main danger to Nature Strip in the TAB Everest before being scratched on race morning with a minor skin irritation. Trialled since and has put in a couple of very solid runs this time in on tracks that haven’t really suited him so firmer deck here is a huge plus. Chased home Eduardo in this last year and can go one better here.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Lost And Running has an excellent opportunity here after his unfortunate scratching on Everest day. He maps to get a good run and he goes on top for me. I will be keeping Eduardo safe at $7.50 and he can definitely bounce back without surprising.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Lost And Running looks awfully short here for us off a setback and as such we’ll be laying him. The Everest form looks prominent however we’ve attracted some money for two runners at odds, Rocketing By $61-$29 and Brutality $61-$41.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Lost And Running and Private Eye hold more than half the early money between them. I’m going with Mazu to upset the pair while Kementari and Rocketing By aren’t hopeless.”
Verdict: Lost And Running
R8: Golden Eagle (1500m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “An outstanding field. He’s been heavily backed with TAB all week, and after seeing him in the flesh at Canterbury on Tuesday morning, I’m with Light Infantry. He’s drawn the right barrier for champion rider Jamie Spencer to give him an economical run in the race, and if he produces his European form of recent times, he’ll be too good. The dangers, and there are plenty. Gypsy Goddess seems a forgotten horse, but that’s because of the extraordinary depth of this race. She will settle worse than midfield, but she’ll be flashing home first up. In The Congo is fit, in form, and will be on speed for a long way. Hinged and Vilana are in terrific form, but wide barriers make their task tough. The chances don’t end there, what a race.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I’ve been with Gypsy Goddess for quite a while now and not really concerned with her being first-up as this has been the plan all along. Blinkers go back on, unbeaten first-up and on good tracks. Trialled twice for this and should be run to suit with good speed. Overpass the danger with The Everest form.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “There has been a sustained push for overseas raider Light Infantry since the market opened. His ratings suggest he is hard to beat but it’s not easy to do it first up in a different country so I’ll look to take him on and cheer home the local brigade. I thought Mr Mozart was worth an each way ticket at $26.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Light Infantry is the one they want early but we are happy to lay. I Wish I Win was touted as a Cox Plate hope a few weeks ago and looks a good price at $11. Suited back to 1500m on an improving track and I can’t see them sitting up, which will give him his chance. Chain Of Lightning also very well supported $9-$5.50. Keeping her very safe. Kiss Sum if he sneaks in can run well.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Light Infantry has been heavily backed from as much as $4 post draw. Fangirl at big odds looks a nice each-way bet.”
Verdict: Light Infantry
Originally published as David Payne is confident the in-form Mahagoni can overcome his weighty impost and claim the Four Pillars
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