Alongside her brother Patrick, Michelle Payne continues her hands-on training approach while also dedicating time to an important cause—gathering unused horse feed for redistribution to farmers and animals facing drought hardship.
That positive energy could extend to race day on Saturday as the stable looks to score big at Flemington, with Buccleuch emerging as a key runner in familiar colours.
Carrying the same silks as 2020 Taj Rossi Series winner Cherry Tortoni, Buccleuch is the $1.85 market favourite in the Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m).
“He’s a lovely horse that helps himself and at last start he stepped a little bit slow but Billy Egan was able to get him into a nice rhythm to hold the position he wanted to,” Michelle told RadioTAB.
“He went to sleep and when Billy asked him to take a gap and quicken, he was ready to do it.”
“They are the types of horse you want in your stable and he looks like he can progress.
It looks like a really nice race for him on Saturday and we are excited for the future with him.”
Buccleuch is sired by Peltzer, a winner of the Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and a placegetter in the Golden Rose (1400m).
Payne believes Buccleuch’s size and maturity make him well suited to the 59kg top weight.
“He’s a big, strong two-year-old and we wouldn’t run him if we didn’t think he was capable of doing that,” she added.
Jimmy The Bear, another from the stable, is set for the Winter Championship Final and comes off a convincing win at the track.
“His last start win was exceptional and he dominated when he got the gap,” Payne said.
“He went to the line with ease and it was one of the best wins of his career. He’ll need to as he has some competition in that Final.”
Also entered are Silver Pledge and Frontline Action in the Mahogany Challenge Final, with both holding solid form credentials.
To place a bet on Buccleuch, Jimmy The Bear, or any Flemington feature, browse leading odds at Australia’s best betting sites.