Payne backing Montefilia for another big run in Queen Elizabeth
Montefilia has surprised many punters, but not David Payne.
The respected trainer with 107 overall Group 1 winners is confident his four-year-old mare can once again get tongues wagging in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The $7 chance with is coming off a brilliant performance last start – she beat Chris Waller’s favourite, superstar six-year-old mare Verry Elleegant, in the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 19.
It was a run which proved the theory that Payne’s stayer is continually improving, after saluting in the $750,000 Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 2 last year.
Her record is a consistent one – six wins from 18 starts, and Payne has held a high opinion of her since she was just three years old.
“If you look at her record she’s always done her best. I’m not too certain about that (beating Verry Elleegant again), but I know she’ll do her best,” Payne told HorseBetting.com.au.
“She beat her fair and square on the day (in the Ranvet Stakes). It was her second run back, so we were happy.
“We thought she’d run well. It all worked out.
“That’s racing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Montefilia is also healthy and does not mind a wet track. She beat Verry Elleegant on a heavy track last start.
“She’s well. She’s going in fit and well. We’re very happy with her,” Payne said.
“I think she handles all conditions. We’re not concerned about it (a heavy track).
“They’ve all got to go through it.”
Payne did not think Montefilia would go on and achieve what she’s achieved.
But he also was not surprised when she beat the great Verry Elleegant, the defending Melbourne Cup champion dubbed the “queen of racing”.
“If you look at her record she’s won six races. She’s only raced the best all her career, so she’s really done us proud,” Payne said of his mare with over $2.3 million in prizemoney to date.
“No (I didn’t think she’d have the career she’s had). We thought she was a nice filly that was going to win races – a good staying filly.
“But she showed us she was special when she beat older horses over 1500m as a three-year-old at Rosehill (winning the $125,000 Sky Racing Active Handicap at Rosehill on August 8, 2020).
“That’s when you realise she’s above average. When they can beat an old horse over 1500.
“We thought she’d go well. It was a test and she came through pretty well.”
Four-time New South Wales metropolitan jockeys’ premiership winner Hugh Bowman will be aboard Montefilia on Saturday.
“Hughie knows her, which is good,” Payne said.