Trainer David Payne has his sights on an early Christmas present with a Randwick double
He has the best strike-rate in Sydney and trainer David Payne can improve his figures further with a double at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer David Payne by the numbers makes for impressive reading.
From 52 city starters this season, he has had 11 city winners at a strike-rate of 21.2 per cent and a top 10 position in the Sydney premiership – all this from a trainer who only 20 horses in work.
Payne boasts the best strike-rate in Sydney racing – the next best is Team Hawkes, Mark Newnham and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace on 18.9 per cent – and he can further improve his runners to winners ratio with Tympanist and Mahagoni.
Tympanist is at generous odds of $8.50 for the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1800m) given he is coming off a strong last start win on the Kensington track where he ran down subsequent Warwick Farm winner Villaden.
“I’ve scratched Tympanist a few times since his last start win because he’s drawn wide barriers,” Payne said.
“But I feel we have found the right race for him and he’s trained on well.”
Mahagoni has already won two city races for the Payne stable this season and is rated a $5.50 chance for the Schweppes Handicap (1600m).
Payne gave Mahagoni six weeks between runs before the gelding ran on well for fifth behind Nugget at Randwick two weeks ago.
“Mahagoni comes out of a strong form race and only has 52kg so he gets in nicely with the claim,” Payne said.
“He’s never been better and there is more improvement to come. He’s still a young horse.”
Payne also confirmed stable star Montefilia is back in work and will be aimed at four Group 1 weight-for-age races in autumn – Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Tancred Stakes (2400m) and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1100m: 4,5,6,7
1200m: 6,7,5,1
1400m: 1,2,3,7
1600m: 3,2,4,5
2000m: 2,1,5,6
2400m: 1,2,4,3
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Empire Of Japan $2.60-$2.30-$2.40 with bets of $500 at $2.60, $1,400 at $2.50, $400 at $2.30, Platinum Jubilee $2.60-$2.70-$2.50 after bets of $588 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.70, $500 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.60
Race 2: Logan Street Lion $5.50-$4.20, Touristic $10-$5.50 after bets of $600 at $10, $500 at $5.50
Race 3: Estadio Mestalla $4.40-$3.20-$3.30 with bets of $800 at $4.40, $450 at $4, Ausbred Flirt $2.80-$3.10 including a bet of $2,300 at $3.10, Tenderize $6-$6.50-$6-$5 with bets of $1,000 at $6.50, $1,000 e/w at $6.50/$2
Race 4: Salire $4.40-$3.10 after bets of $800 at $4.40, $600 at $3.90, $2,000 at $3.10, A Guinea $19-$11
Race 5: Made By Khan $5 unchanged after bets with $1,000 at $5, $400 at $5, Media Starguest $3.70-$3.20, Real Peace $11-$7.50
Race 6: King Of Clubs $5.50-$4.20 after a bet $4,000 at $4.60, Pepper’s Ghost $14-$10
Race 7: Jojo Was A Man $10-$7.50, Democracy Manifest $2.50-$2.30 including bets of $1,200 at $2.50, $500 at $2.50, $500 at $2.30, Mahagoni $7-$5.50
Race 8: Kir Royale $5-$3.90-$3.60, Amathuba $21-$14, Sunshine In Paris $4-$2.40 with bets of $1,200 at $4, $500 at $3.40, $950 at $3.20, $1,000 at $2.80
Race 9: Green Shadows $9-$4.60 after bets of $600 at $9, $400 at $7, $500 at $5.50, $500 at $5, $1,000 at $4.40
Race 10: Iowna Merc $4.40-$3.10 with bets of $750 at $4.40, $400 at $3.80, $600 e/w at $3.60/$1.70, $500 at $3.20)
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,2,8
Race 4: 2,3,11,16
Race 5: 2,3,6
Race 6: 1,4,5
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2,6,8
Race 8: 2,14
Race 9: 9,11,12
Race 10: 3,7,9,13
PRICE CHECK
The clash between Empire Of Japan and Platinum Jubilee (race 1) is shaping as the race of the day and it is also proving the best betting race on the program. There is plenty of money for both youngsters with Empire Of Japan firming from $2.60 to $2.40 with bets of $500 at $2.60, $1,400 at $2.50 and $400 at $2.30, while Platinum Jubilee is $2.70 to $2.50 after bets of $588 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.70, $500 at $2.70, $1,000 at $2.60
SECTIONAL STARS
Just A Jedi (race 6) was building up to a win this campaign and it arguably should have come earlier than it did but there is no doubting how impressive or emphatic it was - despite the narrow margin. The date was December 7 in a 2400m Benchmark 72 at Warwick Farm where and when the Sadler’s Wells descendant wound up and charged past his rivals to take his earnings to $200,000 or thereabouts. That figure - with the promise of more to come - represents a significant return on the $60,000 connections paid for the horse at the Inglis Premier Yearling sale in 2019.
Democracy Manifest (race 7) lines-up for his 14th start on Christmas Eve in search of his sixth win. Indeed so consistent is the son of Flying Artie that he has placed a further five times with two fifths on his C.V. For the record, his worst performance came very early in his career when making an unsuccessful bid for the Wellington Boot. Fast forward to more recent times and the Chris Waller trained gelding was at his barnstorming best when coming from near last to win at Royal Randwick with all of 60kg on board.
TRIAL POINTERS
Empire Of Japan (race 1) is the ruling $5 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 14. The Snowden Racing-trained colt was purchased for the not insignificant sum of $680,000 at the 2022 auction, still a good deal less than the $2.8 million his brother, Mount Fuji, made at Easter three years prior. As for Empire Of Japan, he has already established his future stud ambitions having won the Breeders’ Plate and now his sights set on Gold Coast and Golden Slipper glory in the new year. Trialled twice and looks in awesome physical shape.
Supido Beauty (race 4) earned herself something akin to national exposure, albeit briefly, given that it was she who beat the much hyped French import Gold Trip in a trial at Albury on July 12. Gold Trip of course has since gone on to win a Melbourne Cup while Supido Beauty has somewhat disappeared off the radar among the wider punting population. The Darren Burnet-trained filly does in fact deserve substantial praise given she is unbeaten in her two starts and trialled like she is going to measure up in Highway company on Saturday when an easy four lengths heat winner at Wagga on November 26.
BEST BET
Democracy Manifest (race 7) made light of his 60kg and charged home to score impressively over the Randwick 1400m last start. It was an overdue change of luck for Democracy Manifest after a string of near misses this campaign. The Chris Waller-trained gelding has a brilliant finish burst and gives the impression the Randwick 1600m course will suit. He can win again.
VALUE BET
Made By Khan (race 5) raced on a fast speed in the race won by Zoumon at Rosehill three weeks ago and he held on well to finish fourth. He was only second-up that day and it would be reasonable to expect the gelding to take significant improvement from the run. He’s in an easier race at Randwick and shapes as good value runner around $5.
THE JUDGEMENT
R1: Drinkwise Plate (1200m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “Platinum Jubilee was terrific in her Gimcrack Stakes win earlier in the season and has trialled in good fashion coming into her return. All she needs is a bit of tempo on, and she‘ll be strong at the end of 1100m.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I have a slight preference for Platinum Jubilee as she showed much more speed in her latest trial and I don’t think she’s been comfortable on rain affected tracks.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Hard not to be impressed with the way Empire of Japan put them away on debut after sitting last in the run. He won like a good horse and did it in quicker time than Platinum Jubilee. He looks to have come back well at the trials and I have him as a clear on top pick.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “I’ve got a slight leaning to the filly in Platinum Jubilee who was incredible on debut. Trialled up nicely and in the right camp. Money is deadset split between her and Empire of Japan.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “A great clash between Empire Of Japan and Platinum Jubilee. The pair hold nearly 80 per cent of the money with the colt slightly ahead.”
Verdict: Platinum Jubilee
R7: Schweppes Hcp (1600m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I suppose Democracy Manifest is the horse to beat, but I‘d like to see the TAB offering a better price. It looks straightforward, he gets a great run from his barrier, James McDonald produces him at the right time, and his turn of foot will see him the best at the finish. Super Strike is absolutely working up to something.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Mahagoni resumed off a six-week break when running on behind Nugget here two weeks ago and should be greatly improved. The fact he also drops to 52kg sees all but one of the field spotting him at least 3kg.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Democracy Manifest was a good winner last start and is always thereabouts but he looks rock bottom odds at $2.15. I’ve given Jojo Was A Man a few chances this prep and I will again at the $10 mark but it could be the last time I do.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Democracy Manifest is well supported here $2.40-$2 with James McDonald going on. We’re not entirely sure about him seeing out the mile and will be happy to let punters on him. Super Strike has to lug the big weight but looks a strong type.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Don’t mind Super Strike at the each-way odds. Comes into this third-up and has won at the distance.”
Verdict: Democracy Manifest
R8: Grainshaker Aust Vodka (1200m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I‘ve always had time for Pretty Wild, she’s still only lightly raced, and she returned to the races with a good run the other day.”
Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Kir Royale has been too keen in her trials and her first run back from a break which has left her vulnerable late. She finds a race here where she draws middle to inside and is desperate for a smother.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “I liked the return of Pretty Wild who hasn’t missed the quinella in four starts and stays at 1200m here. Will be fitter for her last start second.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Happy to lay Sunshine In Paris here to our customers. Kahawaty is flying and looks over to me at $9.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Sunshine In Paris has been backed as though it will go close.”
Verdict: Kir Royale
Originally published as Trainer David Payne has his sights on an early Christmas present with a Randwick double
Rain only concern for Moody filly at Flemington
Talented filly Eneeza has one box left to tick this spring when she begins her campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Sargent buoyed by Sea’s Group 1 potential
With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: Mitch’s moral ‘just wins’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Mitch has a moral on a day featuring three Group 1s and a Premiere sprint.