Payne links up with Precedence for farewell race
MELBOURNE Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne will ride Precedence for the first and last time this Saturday in the $150,000 Sandown Cup.
The James Cummings-trained 10-year-old is saying farewell and Cummings is hoping the fairytale can come true in what has been an emotional year.
“I think it was just meant to be that Michelle rides him in his last race. My grandfather Bart loved her and he gave her her first Group 1 winner and also her first Melbourne Cup ride,” Cummings said.
“It’s every sportsperson’s dream of going out on a winning note but, other than Makybe Diva, it rarely happens. I’ll be holding on to hope.”
Precedence is a long-shot chance at $51 with CrownBet.com.au, but Cummings is seeing the positives leading into the Cup.
“He’s fifth-up, he gets back to two miles, he loves Sandown and he’s working well. Also, the form from the Moonee Valley Cup has held up with the Melbourne Cup winner coming from that race,” Cummings said.
Precedence has become the living memory of Bart Cummings and grandson James will always remember 10-time winner.
“Training with my grandfather, he gave me my first Melbourne Cup runner and he also won the Moonee Valley Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for us,” he said.
“It’s not just me who he’s affected,” Cummings said. “It was my grandfather, his five track riders, his jockeys, punters and racing fans. People my age would tell me when they had a bet on him and remember him. There’s something very touching about that.”
Precedence has been known for its tough nature and endurance to run in the Melbourne Spring Carnival year after year.
“Only a tough horse could do that,” Cummings said. “Early on, you couldn’t have predicted what he was going to do. He had a chinaman’s chance of doing what he actually achieved.”
2015 Sandown Cup market
The three Melbourne Cup defects have all been well supported, but De Little Engine is making a serious push for favouritism.
The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding is coming off a strong win last start and punters think it can overhaul the likes of The Offer, Almoonqith and Grand Marshal.
1. The Offer – $5.50
2. Almoonqith – $4.60
3. Grand Marshal – $6
4. Precedence – $51
5. De Little Engine – $4.80
6. Like A Carousel – $13
7. Maygrove – $8
8. Renew – $21
9. Tremec – $17
10. Manalapan – $31
11. Sasenkile – $18
12. Pop ‘n’ Scotch – $26
13. Planet Purple – $61
14. Cuban Fighter – $51
15. Refectory – $101