Highlights from a sunny Standish day at Flemington

One-Two Payne Punch in Opener

Patrick & Michelle Payne kicked off the Flemington card in ideal fashion, providing the quinella in TAB We’re On Benchmark 70 over 1400m.

Punters wanted to be with Geelong debutant winner Stormy Grove, but it was stablemate Zorro’s Dream ($11) with Tom Prebble aboard who kicked clear to hold a 2-¼ length margin over Stormy Grove ($3.90) with $1.95 favourite Xarpo a nose back in third.

“Stormy and Zorro's Flight, they're both really lovely, relaxed horses and helping themselves out. And he's just a real beauty, this guy. He puts himself on the speed, goes to sleep, and really helps himself,” Michelle Payne said.

Possible Derby for the Doctor

The National Jockeys Trust Trophy (2000m) for three-year-olds on this Flemington fixture has been a good pointer to Derbies in past years, and Thedoctoroflove could potentially target a staying feature in the coming months

By So You Think and ridden by Daniel Moor, Thedoctoroflove ($11) pulled clear from favourite Sigiriya Rock ($4.20) to score by half a length with 3.5 lengths back to Colour Our World ($5) in third, and stable representative Trent Murphy was buoyed by the performance.

“We've come here quietly confident today that he could get the job done. It was a reasonably strong field today, so he put him away quite easily, I thought,” Murphy said.

“As far as I know, he'll find himself in a Derby somewhere, whether it be Sydney or Adelaide or New Zealand, I'm not sure.”

Payne train rolls on

Patrick & Michelle Payne and Tom Prebble made it two wins from three races when Smokin’ Princess took out the Benchmark 70 Jockey Acknowledgment Plate (1600m) for fillies and mares.

Originally trained by Michelle before she joined her brother in a training duo, $3.10 favourite Smokin’ Princess ran on strongly to score by three quarters of a length over $7 chance Stylish, with Harmonious Senora ($21) three quarters of a length back in third.

“She travelled strong, he got her into clear running at the right time… we really wanted to come here to Flemington because the big track, she’s a big girl and we thought that would really suit her, keeping her at the mile was a little bit of a question mark but keeping her on the fresh side was the key today,” Michelle Payne said.

“Just so proud of her and grateful for the effort, another lovely ride by Tom, very happy for the whole team.” - Michelle Payne

Moonee Valley to Morphettville for Taramansour?

Phillip Stokes is starting to assemble his Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) team with the former SA based trainer suggesting consistent stayer Taramansour could be headed that way.

The eight-year-old gelding ($4.40) proved too strong late in the Readiness App Handicap (2500m) under Jaylah Kennedy, beating $5 chance Newfoundland by 1-1/2 lengths with Convener ($21) close up in third.

“Looked a bit messy there for a while, but she (Kennedy) got clear room and he was strong,” Stokes said.

“From here we might go towards a Torney Cup or maybe an Adelaide Cup.”

“He’ll be back at the farm tomorrow and we’ll just keep him ticking over there and just keep him mentally happy and hopefully he can win more races for connections.”

The Listed Torney Cup (2500m) is scheduled to be run at Moonee Valley on February 21, with the Adelaide Cup on March 10.

Kah rides first winner of 2025

Enver Jusufovic’s hot favourite New York Lustre provided Jamie Kah her first winner of 2025, and it could be the last as we know her, with the leading jockey set to become Jamie Melham in the coming weeks.

Having taken time off over the new year, Kah had only had four rides in 2025 prior to scoring in the Victorian Jockeys Association Trophy (1000m), a no metro win race, aboard the $1.70 favourite by 1-½ lengths to $8 chance Elena Montero with Boonie ($6) sticking on for a narrow third.

“There's lots of those (wedding expenses) to pay for and last day riding as Jamie Kah, so looking forward to changing the name and starting the new year,” Kah said.

“She's obviously got talent, but that was the only thing, just down the straight for the first time, and she was professional. I was just a passenger then, I did nothing but sit there. She's got a big upside. I'd like to see her over a little bit further, maybe 1200 (metres) next start,” Kah said.

Jusufovic suggested a possible Tasmanian tilt could be on the cards for the lightly raced five-year-old mare, who has now won three from six.

“Well, Mike (Howard, owner) has got a plan to go to the Bow Mistress (now the Mystic Journey) in Tasmania, but, we'll see how she pulls up and I'll have a discussion with Jamie. He's got a plan. We'll see whether we get there or not,” Jusufovic said.

It'sourtime too tough in Standish

Ridden by Billy Egan, It'sourtime ($4.60) held off the late challenge of Aztec Ruler ($14) to win the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) by a head, with early leader Joyful Fortune ($5) just a long head away in third. Race favourite Pereille had a chequered passage in the run and was beaten just a length in fifth.

Assistant trainer James Hicks said the seven-year-old gelding was a pleasure to train and deserved another win, his second at Group level and his fifth at Flemington.

"The team down at Barwon's done a great job with him. They just tick him over, he doesn't have to do much work. He's rock-hard fit, goes out in the paddock during the day, enjoys just being a horse. So he's a pretty easy horse to deal with and train. Danny does a great job placing him, good team effort from everyone," Hicks said.

Billy Egan certainly earnt his riding fee on a hot day at Flemington to prevail in a tight finish as Aztec Ruler loomed up.

"I was half getting a little frustrated with him getting on the line because he gave me such a good ride. He went to a Harry's horse like a winner and  then just the last couple of metres, that horse coming on my outside was starting to worry him out of it, and I was like, oh come on, you bastard, there's like 20 metres to go," Egan said

"Just dig deep for me because the other horse nearly had him worried out of it. So I had to ask a lot of him, and he responded enough, you've got to throw everything at him and it's good he got over the line." - Billy Egan