Trainer David Payne celebrated his first Group 1 winner in Australia when his 3 year old filly Unearthly (Zabeel x Snippet's Crown) won the $350,000 Flight Stakes over 1600 metres at Royal Randwick on Epsom Saturday 4 October, the biggest Spring raceday attraction in Sydney. Unearthly possessed the credentials to win this prestigious event, having finished second to Shamekha (Secret Savings x Lifetime Story) in the recent Group 2 Tea Rose over 1500 metres. On that occasion, she had too much to do in the home straight and flew home to record a blistering 11.29 seconds for the final 200 metres, the fastest finish of the entire day.

In the Flight Stakes, jockey Corey Brown positioned her closer to the speed and always within striking distance of Shamekha, the Gai Waterhouse trained short priced favourite. Entering the straight, Corey Brown unleashed Unearthly around the pacemakers, and making full use of her brilliant turn of foot, she catapulted clear to hold a commanding lead 200 metres from the line, which she maintained to the end. The winning margin was 2.3 lengths. The time for the race was 1 minute 36.57 seconds, with the last 600 metres run in 36.56 seconds.

Understandably David Payne was ecstatic at having broken through into the Group 1 winning ranks. By his own admission it has not been easy, particularly with a limited number of stable boxes and a very competitive enviroment. However he is hopeful that additional stables will be made available to him in the near future. Jockey Corey Brown, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to any opposition on the day, winning all three of the Group 1 races, collectively worth $1.3 million.

Unearthly was selected and purchased by James Bester at the 2002 New Zealand Yearling Sales, whereafter he offered her to Mr John & Mrs Debbie Camilleri, who, after meeting Payne for coffee, decided to entrust him with their new acquisition.

Payne saddled another filly in the Flight Stakes, Barberton (Flying Spur x Gwalia) owned by Mrs B Oppenheimer and Mrs M Slack. Barberton ran a respectable 5th, beaten 4.3 lengths. She was towards the rear in the early stages, unable to overcome her wide barrier position. However she improved rapidly from halfway, and without ever being on the track, contested second place 250 metres from the finish. The effort inevitably took its toll and Barberton was edged out of fourth place just short of the line.

Unearthly has won three races to date and Barberton two. Both will accompany a small but select string that Payne will be taking to Melbourne for the Spring Carnival. Others in the team include Red Hot Pepper (Grand Lodge x Bridget's Daughter) owned by Mrs Sabine Plattner, Carnegie Express (Carnegie x Honeymoon Express), whose mission is the Melbourne Cup and the 3 year old filly Grandly (Grand Lodge x Autumn Collection), who in winning two of her five races against older and more experienced opposition, made a mockery of the time tested Weight-for-Age Scale. In Melbourne, Unearthly will be aimed at the Group 1 Fillies Guineas and Group 2 Wakeful Stakes while Barberton and Grandly will ultimately be targeted for the Group 1 Oaks.