VRC Community Race Day Recap

Four for Payne and a Prebble treble

The brother and sister training team of Patrick and Michelle Payne were the toast of Flemington on a cold winter’s day when they produced four winners.

It was the first four-timer in town as a trainer for Patrick while for his Melbourne Cup winning sister Michelle, the best she had previously done was ride three legs of the quaddie at Bendigo and close second.

The Payne’s opened the day supply the first two winners of the afternoon - Buccleuch in the TAB We’re On and Stop The Rock in the Ken Cox Handicap, race six with Bold Soul taking out the Bruce Gadsden Handicap (2540m) before Jimmy The Bear claimed the second last event, The David Bourke (1620m).

“I had three wins and a very close second one day at Bendigo in the legs of the quaddie, but this is the best I’ve had and it’s great for the team,” Michelle said.

“Patrick works so hard with everyone at home and it’s a huge effort.

“Jimmy is a stable favourite and it’s great to do it with him.

“He’s such a lovely horse and he gives himself every chance.”

Not to be outdone Prebble registered his first treble when guiding Jimmy The Bear after scoring earlier on Bold Soul and Splash Back in the Brian Beattie Handicap (1400m).

“I have to thank Patrick and Michelle for allowing me to stick with him,” Prebble said after Jimmy The Bear’s success.

“He tried his best and put his best foot forward today and he was terrific.

“It’s my first treble and to get it at Flemington is excellent.”

A touch of class from Splash Back

Trainer Grahame Begg believes Splash Back has a good race within her after taking out the Brian Beattie Handicap (1420m).

In a precarious position turning for home, apprentice Tom Prebble was able to weave a path into the clear with the mare powering home to an impressive win.

“She was in a bit of a sticky situation and I said to Tom, pre-race, it’s a long straight, just be patient,” Begg said.

“Don’t push the button too early, but he didn’t have too many options, but he showed great poise and waited his turn and she let down really well.

“She’s got a good race in her this girl.”

Begg doubts Splash Back will have enough ratings points to secure a start in the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5.

“We’ll see, but we may even back off and have a crack at some part of the spring,” Begg said.

Taken goes back-to-back

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Taken extended his winning sequence to four with victory in the Rod Johnson Handicap (1620m).

Taken scored at Pakenham and then Sandown before an effortless three length victory over 1600m at Flemington on June 7.

“It was a lot less dominant today, but he carried a lot more weight and he’s deep into the campaign,” Kent Jnr said.

“So, now you’re wondering where the end is.

“It’s great to win a race at Flemington, let alone two on the bounce.”

Cafe Millenium get on board

Cafe Millenium has been a costly conveyance for punters but he got them on the right side of the ledger with his victory in the Les Twentyman OAM Handicap (1420m).

The four-year-old was having just his second start for the Lindsay Park operation of Ben, Will and J D Hayes having previously been prepared in Sydney by John Size and Tom Charlton.

Cafe Millenium had shown his class with a placing in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, but had only registered one win from his 18 starts prior to Saturday’s success.

The gelding had to overcome a difficult passage to score.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster of a watch,” Will Hayes said.

“He jumped very well from the barriers, which is something we had been working on and we looked like we were going to hold a position closer to the speed than we would in his previous couple of runs.

“But we had horses fall back in our lap and credit to Luke (Cartwirght), he didn’t panic and went for runs near the inside.

“He’s pretty big. About as big as they come.

“He’s got a big stride and when he lets down, he’s got an electric turn of foot.”