The Patrick and Michelle Payne training partnership appears to have unearthed another talented two-year-old prospect in Buccleuch, who produced a strong performance to take out the TAB We’re On (1420m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The performance came five years after Cherry Tortoni claimed the same race before going on to win the Listed Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m) and later the Group 2 Vase at Moonee Valley, as well as finishing fourth in the prestigious Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
Ridden by Billy Egan, Buccleuch ($4.40) scored convincingly by 2-¼ lengths over Arcora ($19), with Millennium Blade ($7.50) a further length behind in third. Egan had also ridden Buccleuch to a maiden victory at Echuca earlier this month and was taken aback by the colt’s sudden burst of acceleration on Saturday.
“He won really well today,” Egan said.
“I’ve ridden him all the way through in all his trials and races and he’s always been improving, but he’s never shown me the turn of foot like that.
“He’s always been a little leggy, a little unbalanced and I thought he might be a horse that maintains a gallop.
“That’s why I went for him quite firmly at the top of the straight. I thought he might have to struggle to get past Observer, but he went past it like it was nailed to the fence.
“That surprised me a bit. It was a really good win.”
Egan, who also partnered Cherry Tortoni during his two-year-old unbeaten run, noted similarities between the two geldings.
“This bloke is possibly a little slower to develop than he was but that win probably peaked like one of Cherry’s wins as well,” Egan said.
“He’ll go a mile, but I couldn’t say if he’ll be going to a Derby or anything.
“Paddy did the same with Cherry and he only had a short break before the spring.
“He’s in the right hands. If anyone can do it (get him to the spring), he can.”
The Paynes and Egan also teamed up to land another victory with Stop The Rock in the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m). The consistent galloper has now won three of four career starts, while stablemate Verona Rupes finished third and Frontline Action was sixth.
Michelle Payne indicated that all three could return for the Mahogany Challenge Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 5, provided they recover well.
Punters looking to follow promising runners like Buccleuch and Stop The Rock into upcoming events such as the Gibson Carmichael Stakes or Mahogany Challenge Series Final can check odds, boosts, and markets across Australia’s top-rated betting apps and online bookmakers.
