Latest news with #MichellePayne
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Winter warrior Jimmy The Bear delivers again in Winter Championship Final at Flemington
Jimmy The Bear capped a near faultless campaign with victory in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington. The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained winter warrior defied a wide barrier and big weight to win the feature in a blanket finish from Munhamek and Forgot You. Reigning Winter Championship winner Munhamek motored into contention late as a $41 outsider. Favourite Oh Too Good travelled outside the leader Magnaspin and looked a winner in the straight but ultimately felt the early race pressure. Jimmy The Bear has won three of his past five starts and been runner-up twice in brilliant campaign. 'Patrick focuses on this time of year and he's just an old marvel,' Michelle Payne said. 'Big thanks to Mike Hirst (owner breeder Jimmy The Bear and former Racing Victoria chairman) and his support of our stable and family for many, many years. 'He's (Jimmy The Bear) is just an old marvel, his win last start put the writing on the wall … brilliant again today. '(Jockey) Billy (Egan) did the best from the barrier, caught a bit wide but a nice resting run from where he was. 'He was looking a good chance all the way down the straight but he had to fight for it, as Jimmy does, he doesn't know how to run a bad race and he fought it out well.' JIMMY THE BEAR ðŸ�»ðŸ'° The Winter Championship Final goes to Patrick and Michelle Payne's warhorse! Forgot You was a mighty run for third at $61 for Team Busuttin/Young in honour of Peta Tait ðŸ'– @TheBeeegan @mj_payne â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025 Jimmy The Bear completed a double for the Payne partnership. 'I'm sure Patrick is sitting at home with his arms crossed, very, very happy,' Payne said. Egan reunited with Jimmy The Bear on Saturday for the first time this campaign and got the result. Rising star apprentice jockey Tom Prebble had partnered the horse the past four starts but could not finish the job on Saturday due to an untimely suspension. Egan paid tribute to Prebble after the race. 'Tom Prebble is here on-course, shows he's in the game for all the right reasons,' Egan said. 'He's a good kid, this is one of his favourite horses, so good to see him here. 'I admire Tom in a lot of ways, I wish I could've done what he did when I was his age and had his discipline and his good attitude.' Egan enjoyed the win on Jimmy The Bear. 'It's a bit like riding a Group (1) winner then, because how much every in the stable loves this horse.' Egan summed up the situation perfectly on Jimmy The Bear, wide and midfield with a bit of cover. In doing so, Egan had Oh Too Good in his sights the whole way. 'I was three wide but still probably one off with two inside me there, trying to save as much ground as I could,' Egan said. 'With his big weight, Patrick made a good point, we don't want to be giving (Oh Too Good) too big of a head start, he really wore them down … it was a very tough win.' Jockey Ben Allen, who rode Oh Too Good, lamented the eventual race shape. Allen had to use up Oh Too Good early to settle on speed and paid the price late. 'The way I had to ride her I don't think is ideal for her,' Allen said. 'She needs a bit of cover … a bit of a strong head on breeze and she's still learning, so was a bit keen. 'She just felt the pinch late, I still reckon she ran well but she needs circumstances to go her way.'
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Buccleuch could be saved for autumn after capping winter campaign with dominant Taj Rossi Final success
Buccleuch justified a short quote with dominant victory in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. 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 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 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.'
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Billy Egan chasing more success with Patrick and Michelle Payne on Finals day at Flemington
Jockey Billy Egan could bookend another Flemington race day to remember for Patrick and Michelle Payne on Saturday. Egan rode a double a fortnight ago at Headquarters to help the Payne partnership secure a personal best four winners on the card. Egan has only two rides on Saturday but could hold up his end of the bargain on Buccleuch (Listed Taj Rossi Series Final) and Jimmy The Bear (Listed Winter Championship Series Final). Buccleuch has progressed again since a dominant 1400m Flemington success. Egan said the extra distance to 1600m on Saturday should not be a problem. 'He's ticking over nicely,' Egan said. 'He surprised how well (he won last start) … he's putting it together and I'd say there's still good more improvement in him, maturity wise. 'I can't see why (1600m) would be (an issue) … only his fifth start, so we'll find out on the day.' Buccleuch travelled comfortably behind the speed last start and surged past in the straight for an effortless 2¼-length win from Arcora. Buccleuch is $1.70 favourite to repeat the performance, with Arcora a solid $4.60 second elect. Patrick Payne has won the Taj Rossi twice the past five years with Quang Tri (2022) and Cherry Tortoni (2020). Egan will also ride Jimmy The Bear for the first time this campaign, with rising star apprentice jockey Tom Prebble unavailable due to suspension. Jimmy The Bear has been in career-best form, finished in the top two the past four starts including two wins. '(Prebble has) ridden it super,' Egan said. 'Patty has looked after him (Jimmy The Bear) so well, like he does with all his older horses. 'A really genuine horse with a good attitude, so you knew he was going to do something like this.' Jimmy The Bear finished 3¼ lengths behind Winter Championship favourite Oh Too Good two starts back at Flemington. The six-year-old gelding rebounded with a dominant win last start. Jimmy The Bear has drawn outside Oh Too Good on Saturday, barriers 13 and 14 respectively, so the start is crucial for both Winter Championship contenders. 'I'll figure it out as we go,' Egan said. '(Oh Too Good) landed a fair few spots in front of Jimmy last run,' Egan said. 'We might be back a little further (from the barrier) … I'll figure it out as we go, see what happens.' Zorro's Flight (Silver Bowl), Bold Soul (Banjo Paterson) and Frontline Action and Silver Pledge (Mahogany Challenge).
News.com.au
30-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey turned trainer Michelle Payne rallies support to help drought-stricken farmers
Michelle Payne has urged fellow racing industry participants to help drought-stricken farmers with donations of any unused horse feeds. The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, who trains in partnership with her brother Patrick, grew up on a dairy farm her father Paddy owned in Rochester, 180km north of Melbourne. 'A few of us in the racing industry have been working together to collect unused feed from our horses, taken from their bins each morning and afternoon,' Payne posted on social media. 'While this feed is top quality and helps our horses perform at their best, once removed (from the feed bins) almost all of it can no longer be used for horses in training or rest. 'However, it's still perfectly suitable for cattle, sheep, and other livestock.' Severe drought has gripped parts of rural and regional Victoria. 'With the drought hitting so hard this year and winter already upon us, it may feel a little late, but better late than never,' Payne said. 'The impact of no rain has been devastating.' A lot of hardworking trainers, especially in regional areas, already support local farmers with their own initiatives, but Payne said a statewide industry approach 'could make a real difference'. 'If each racing club across Victoria could get behind this, starting with helping trainers co-ordinate and collect, we could really scale this initiative,' Payne said. ' Ballarat, Flemington, Cranbourne and Pakenham have already been approached and are keen to support.' Payne said Aussie Hay Runners, an organisation that transported donated hay to farmers by affected by flood, bushfire and extreme weather events, could 'help with logistics wherever possible'. 'We just ask all trainers bag up their waste feed and put aside for easy collection,' Payne said. 'Feed stores making deliveries could be a huge help in collecting when dropping off feed orders – supplying an area for farmers to collect. 'Many feed companies are coming on board, thank you for your help. 'Let's come together to support our fellow Aussies doing it tough.'
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Training partners Patrick and Michelle Payne claim a winning quartet at Flemington on Saturday
Jimmy The Bear delivered a landmark Flemington four-timer for sibling co-trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne with victory in The David Bourke (1620m). The consistent gelding made amends for a last start Flemington defeat with a strong performance under rising star apprentice jockey Tom Prebble, who sealed a running treble with the win. Michelle Payne hailed the Flemington milestone as 'a huge team effort'. 'Patrick has worked so hard at home with everybody, it's a huge team effort,' Payne said. ' Jimmy is the stable favourite, so beautiful to do it with him.' Earlier on the card, Payne saddled winners Buccleuch, Stop The Rock and Bold Soul. Patrick Payne trained four provincial winners previously at Mildura in 2022. The four-timer bettered Michelle Payne's best efforts in the saddle before she turned her hand to training. 'I nearly rode the quaddie legs at Bendigo one day,' Payne laughed. 'I got pipped on the post, so three sadly.' Payne praised the 'beautiful' rides of Billy Egan (Buccleuch and Stop The Rock) and nephew Tom Prebble (Bold Soul and Jimmy The Bear) at Flemington. Prebble rated Jimmy The Bear nicely three back the rail but needed galloping room in the straight. 'Beautiful ride by Tom, he didn't panic,' Payne said. 'Obviously he had to guide him through a tight run and the horse just did the rest.' Jimmy The Bear is set to advance to the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5. 'All going well, I can't see why not,' Payne said. 'He's training on beautifully and today was a really effortless win.' Prebble enjoyed riding another winner for the family. 'He put his best foot forward today and he was super,' Prebble said. 'He's a big horse, I knew he would be able to push his way out if I needed to, but had to wait for the race to unfold, Flemington is a beautiful track and usually every horse does gets its chance.' Casino Seventeen, the 2024 Perth Cup winner, finished off well to run second in The David Bourke at his first start in Melbourne for Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood. Holymanz and Pounding rounded out the top four. Earlier, Payne enjoyed the win of progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock. 'He's a lovely horse, he's a real sleeper actually,' Payne said. 'All of his trials before he raced were pretty moderate and Patrick put the blinkers on his first start and he won at good odds at Warrnambool, he just seems to step up to the mark on race day.'
