Payne has a glowing opinion of Montefilia and his judgement was proved spot on when she took centre stage with a stout finish to land the G1 Darley Flight S. on Saturday.
Pre-race discussion had been dominated by Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible), who had won the previous three legs of the Princess Series, and Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}), who was expected to relish the step up to 1600 metres.
But it was Payne’s Montefilia who was best served by the move up to a mile and in Hugh Bowman’s hands she came with an irresistible finish to earn top honours and a possible tilt at next weekend’s G1 Spring Champion S.
Montefilia had won over 1500 metres at Rosehill in August and then made late ground for fourth in the G2 Tea Rose S., then on a path to the G1 VRC Oaks.
“She had come out of the paddock and had a winter coat and I said to Hugh she was a couple of lengths better after that last run,” Payne said.
“Our original plan was the Oaks, but now that she has won a Group 1 we don’t have to worry too much about going to Melbourne. We’ll see how she pulls up and we might back her up in the Spring Champion and then go to the paddock.”
“Our original plan was the Oaks, but now that she has won a Group 1 we don’t have to worry too much about going to Melbourne.” – David Payne
Payne doesn’t believe a seven-day back-up will faze Montefilia.
“She’s a laid-back filly and eats well and doesn’t have to do too much next week it all depends on her,” he said. “I’ll see how she is in the next few days.”
Payne was a champion apprentice and senior jockey in South Africa before embarking on an outstanding training career with more than 100 Group 1 victories to his credit.
He moved with his family to Australia in 2002 and his first Group 1 success came with Unearthly (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) winning the 2003 edition of the Flight S. However, Payne isn’t a great one for statistics.
“I think it’s seven or eight in Australia now, I don’t know about records,” he said.
David Payne
High opinion
Runner-up Hungry Heart fought on tenaciously with Vangelic (Vancouver) boxing on for third after making the play out in front and Dame Giselle finished fourth. She was denied a run early in the run home, but didn’t show her trademark sprint when into the clear.
“I’m so proud of the horse and David has a very high opinion of her. It was slowly run (Tea Rose S.) when she ran fourth and it was a bit more cat and mouse today,” Montefilia’s rider Hugh Bowman said.
“I’m so proud of the horse and David has a very high opinion of her.” – Hugh Bowman
“I rode her to help her run her best race and I was rubbing my hands together down the back straight. It’s great to be back in the winner’s circle.
“David always finds a good horse and he knows how to manage them. My filly was always going to be more comfortable over further distances and she’s very exciting.”
Payne purchased Montefilia out of Tyreel Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $130,000. She is a daughter of Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco {GB}), who won up to 2000 metres in England and was a multiple Listed placegetter.
Her pedigree page includes the G2 Goodwood Vintage S. winner Strategic Prince (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the Listed Aston Park S. winner Yorkshire (Ire) (Generous {Ire}).
Montefilia as a yearling
