Michelle Payne creates history at Swan Hill

Michelle Payne
Michelle Payne becomes the first dual license trainer/jockey to win in Victoria

MICHELLE Payne made history when she became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup and she was back at it again on Sunday when she rode her first winner as a trainer at Swan Hill.

Payne successfully piloted home Duke Of Nottingham ($4.20 at CrownBet) in the Thankyou Vietnam Vets Maiden Plate and she became the first dual license holder to win in Victoria.

Training out of Nottingham Farm in Ballarat, Payne paid credit to her family.

“It’s a huge thrill and I have to say a big thank you to my dad and my nephew Sam, who help me out when I’m not there,” Payne said.

“You have to have good people helping you and it’s a big team effort.

“It’s a real thrill to get a winner today, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now. I copped a clod at about the 600 (metres) but it doesn’t matter now.”

Payne believes the son of Excellent Art will get better over the longer distances and there’s plenty of improvement to come.

“He’s a very nice horse with a lovely nature and he does everything right,” Payne said.

“I was happy to stay at the 1200 metres today as it was a good race for him and I think his class got him the win today.

“He’s definitely going to be better over 1400m or further and hopefully sign of more wins to come.”

ARC announce major infrastructure plan

The Australian Turf Club has announced major renovation plans to all four Sydney racecourses over the next 10 years.

The ATC says it has developed a program of renovation or rebuilding of all course proper and training tracks, but ensures only one main track will be affected at one time.

The rebuild of the Kensington track at Randwick will begin next month and is expected to be ready for the 2017/2018 season.

Night racing could also be coming to Randwick and Rosehill as the ATC plans to install a lighting system.

“Installation of lights at Royal Randwick will be subject to development consent and consultation with local the local community, before further investigation of lights at Rosehill Gardens, taking advantage of NSW government light rail links at both venues,” an ATC statement said.

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The ATC recently announced a surplus of $13.4 million and chief executive Darren Pearce said it can now deliver on long-term plans after years of financial consolidation and reduction of debt.

“Everything that we have built this strategy on recognises the need to get the stage right for our main attraction, the thoroughbred,” Pearce said.

“This means building and maintaining the very best in training tracks and course proper surfaces at all of racecourses, to world-class standards.

“We remain fully focused on continuing to make Sydney racing not only the strongest in Australia, but the benchmark for anywhere in the world.”

Cao Cao firms for Magic Millions

Mick Price has decided to send smart two-year-old Cao Cao to the $2 million Magic Millions Classic in January after its win on Saturday.

The $350,000 purchase won the Whiteman Property Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday in fine style and despite doing plenty wrong during the run, the colt has now earned itself a chance at the big time.

Cao Cao was compared to stablemates Flying Artie and Extreme Choice, with Price stating it wasn’t as quick, but it is tough.

“He is a tough colt,” Price said.

“He has just got to be kept up for the Magic Millions.

“I think that takes his prizemoney to $71,000, which will probably get him a run. So the trick will be to nurse him in.”

Price is hoping to send Cao Cao to the Magic Millions without another run. It’s currently a $7.50 chance at Sportsbet behind Madeenaty ($5) which defeated Cao Cao on debut in the Maribyrnong Plate.

“Hopefully the prize money is a guarantee that he gets a run so I don’t have to run him again,” Price said.

“He has to get up there. I think we have made a fair bit of use of him.

“It’s tough. I noticed he was off the bridle a long way out but I think that might be a mental thing rather than he is actually gone.”

Price has given Cao Cao some experience working right handed, but wasn’t able to line up in the Clockwise Classic at Ballarat earlier this month.

“You had to trial there and I was too close from trialling from when he had ran,” Price said.

“I couldn’t run him there. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. He has done what he has done and gets a ticket to the Magic Millions now.”

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