Buccleuch could be saved for autumn after capping winter campaign with dominant Taj Rossi Final success
The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained $1.50 favourite settled off the speed in a moderately-run race but quickly loomed into contention and surged clear late under jockey Billy Egan.
'He's just learning what it's all about,' Michelle Payne said.
'He's been on a bit of a working holiday through the winter time and if he could pick up something along the way even better, but he's a lovely horse, always showed us good potential.'
Payne said developing Buccleuch could be saved for an autumn three-year-old campaign.
'(Patrick) thinks he might be a horse better for the autumn rather than the spring but he's done everything asked of him,' Payne said.
'He's all class and a lovely galloper … he's doing it now nicely against the winter class two-year-olds but he might be a bit left behind in the early three-year-old days.'
Patrick and Michelle have a smart one on their hands here 🚀🚀
Buccleuch does it easily to make it three on the trot and gives his trainers their first Stakes win as a partnership! @TheBeeegan @mj_payne pic.twitter.com/Zbl6p5kzPp
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025
Buccleuch gave Patrick Payne a third Taj Rossi after Cherry Tortoni (2020) and Quang Tri (2022) – all with Egan in the saddle.
Egan had the race won 'the whole way' on Saturday.
'He was probably a little more happy with himself … took me a couple strides to get him back under me but when he switched off he travelled like the winner the whole way,' Egan said.
'The way he put them away is really impressive, he picks them up very quickly … when he gets there he has a bit of a look around.
'Hopefully with a bit more experience and more education he'll put bigger margins on them.'
â– â– â– â– â–
Hard work pays off for Riordan
Jockey Liam Riordan notched a career milestone on Saturday with stakes success on Marble Nine in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m).
In-form Marble Nine, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, dug deep late to hold out Godolphin pair Pereille and Inhibitions.
'It's really good, I've had a lot of placings in stakes races,' Riordan said.
'Just haven't been able to quite get the job done yet.
'Good to get one for Leon, Troy and Will … I couldn't ride a horse when I went there (as an apprentice) and I'm still riding for them 10 years later.'
Marble Nine and Liam Riordan combine again to win at Flemington!
Tough as teak down the straight ðŸ'°ðŸ'° @LiamRiordan97 pic.twitter.com/lPXT1xzUT5
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025
Co-trainer Larkin praised good friend Riordan.
'It's good to get a win with him … and he deserves success like this, he works very hard,' Larkin said.
'He's on an upward trajectory from here … he's got an incredible work ethic and never been any different, even as an apprentice he was always in the stables.
'When he finished his riding work he'd be always mucking out boxes, never been shy to get away from work and that is going to take him a long way.'
Larkin said Marble Nine would more than likely now head to the paddock for a break.
The consistent four-year-old gelding has won four of nine starts for the campaign.
'We probably wouldn't be here if he wasn't in the form he was, we'd be in the paddock by now,' Larkin said.
'He's ticked off a black-type win for connections … I think he's earned a break.'
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