The two year old colt, Red Hot Pepper (Grand Lodge x Bridget's Daughter) provided leading South African owner, Mrs Sabine Plattner her first ever Australian winner, with her very first runner.

Trained by David Payne, Red Hot Pepper (Hugh Bowman : 56 kgs) made his debut at Royal Randwick, Sydney in a $20,000 Two Year Old Colts & Geldings Handicap over 1200 metres on Wednesday 12 March. Persistent overnight rain resulted in the track condition being downgraded to 'slow'. As the field cantered to the start, the rain continued to fall, and some, including Red Hot Pepper, seemed unperturbed by the inconvenience, while others looked decidedly uncomfortable. 

Red Hot Pepper jumped on terms but immediately eased off the pace to settle in fifth position, three to four lengths off the leaders, which included the Gai Waterhouse trained favourite Terracotta Bay (Langfuhr x Helen's Bay). The order was virtually unchanged to the straight, where the leaders surged forward. At this stage, Hugh Bowman was gently coaxing Red Hot Pepper, and switched him to the centre of the course for a clear run. Under a balanced ride, Red Hot Pepper produced a sustained run to catch Terracotta Bay in the last stride, with the third placegetter three parts a length behind and a good margin to the rest. Red Hot Pepper handled the soft underfoot conditions like a veteran, even though David Payne believes that he will be best on firm going. The race was run in a respectable 1 minute 11.40 seconds with the final 600 metres clocked in 36.14 seconds. 

David Payne was absolutely delighted with the win especially as Red Hot Pepper has occupied a special place in his heart ever since he "fell in love with him" at the 2002 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Red Hot Pepper, who cost $140,000, is a half brother to Millennium Diamond (Royal Academy x Bridget's Daughter), also trained by Payne when in South Africa. Red Hot Pepper is a quality, athletic chestnut with a laid back temperament. He reminds me (Wayne Aldridge) of my all time favourite horse, Elevation.

Payne has a number of options for Red Hot Pepper, including :

1. $3 million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200 metres) at Rosehill Gardens on 12 April;

2. $1 million San Miguel William Inglis Heroic Championship (1300 metres) at Royal Randwick on 19 April;

3. $380,000 Group 1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes (1400 metres) at Royal Randwick on 21 April;

4. $475,000 Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600 metres) at Royal Randwick on 3 May.


Going into the race, Red Hot Pepper had participated in a solitary barrier trial. In the trial, he was fractionally slow to jump, thereafter raced eight wide, but still managed to fly up late to finish a promising fourth. That trial did not go unnoticed by The Sydney Morning Herald who carried the
pre race headline "Looking Red Hot If Slipper Fits". It went on to say "The Golden Slipper picture may take another twist today when Randwick-based South African trainer David Payne unveils his promising juvenile Red Hot Pepper on his home track............While conceding the $3 million Golden Slipper "may come too soon" for his colt, Payne said Red Hot Pepper was a "lovely horse with natural ability". "He's got ability and if he surprises  me, I will look at it", he said. "If not, the $1 million Heroic Championship at Randwick a week after the Slipper is also an option"".