Saturday, 22 February 2003:
It was handshakes all round for
former South African trainer David Payne as ultra-consistent mare Miss
Helterskelter gave him his first stakes victory since he moved to
Randwick last year.
A jockey in his homeland before
becoming a successful trainer, Payne has an impressive bunch of horses
in his stable including dual Group One winner Carnegie Express and
proven international mare Hoeberg.
And after today's effort in the
Listed Breeders Classic (1200m) he can add Miss Helterskelter to that
list.
The four-year-old mare has been
unlucky in her past few starts always threatening at the finish
without ever showing the necessary dash to close out her races.
Her win today continued a magnificent
campaign this time in under her new trainer giving her two wins, two
seconds and a third from her last five starts.
"That's my first stakes win in
Sydney," Payne said after the race.
First came congratulations from
fellow Randwick trainer John O'Shea and then more pleasantries were
delivered courtesy of AJC chief executive Tony King - no doubt happy
to see Payne had settled in so well.
Sitting three wide for the entire
trip, Miss Helterskelter scooted to the lead just after the turn and
had enough in the tank to see off a late burst from Hosannah who
finished three-quarters of a length second with Ritual another length
third.
"I decided to run her today
because I knew she was fit. She has been unlucky in her last couple of
starts and I knew the others were resuming," Payne said.
"I thought she'd have a good
chance today."
Her win augurs well for a big autumn
for Payne who hinted that the mare might press on toward the $1
million Group One Galaxy (1100m) on April 19.
Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha eased in
pre-race betting but battled on well finishing 3-1/2 lengths away
sixth.
Favourite Ancient Song showed
impressive early speed to do all the running in the race but weakened
slightly going to the post to finish a creditable fourth.
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