Payne partnership shines with Flemington success

Zorro’s Flight ($11), ridden by their nephew and in-form apprentice Tom Prebble, claimed the $150,000 TAB We’re On (1400m), stepping up from maiden grade to Benchmark 70 with ease. The three-year-old sat on the speed and pulled away to win by 2¼ lengths. Stablemate Stormy Grove ($3.90) secured second place, while Mr Markle ($19) finished fifth.

“They were all really good, I think,” Payne told Racing.com of her quinella horses. “He’s [Zorro’s Flight] just a real beauty. He puts himself on the speed, goes to sleep, and really helps himself. Fantastic for the owners and for Tom, who’s riding really well.”

The win marked Prebble’s fifth success for the Payne training duo since they teamed up. Prebble, son of champion jockey Brett Prebble and Maree Payne, capitalised on the opportunity after Billy Egan was booked for Mr Markle.

“I was lucky to pick up the ride, and it all worked out perfectly,” Prebble said.

The Payne/Prebble combination also had success with Smokin’ Princess ($3.10), who gave them an early double with a comfortable win in the Jockey Acknowledgement Plate.

The Paynes’ recent success is the result of years of hard work and dedication, not only from Michelle and Patrick but from the strong family foundation they’ve built.

Patrick Payne’s career as a jockey boasted an incredible 19 Group 1 victories, including his unforgettable ride aboard Northerly to claim the 2002 Cox Plate. His talents took him global, with successful stints in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Now a respected trainer with more than 15 years of experience, Patrick's patient methods at his Plumpton training base delivered the stable’s first Group 1 triumph with Dunkel’s victory in the 2023 SA Derby, a win made even better by an unconventional eight-week lead-up without a race.

Michelle’s own journey to becoming a trainer was years in the making.

Having achieved the pinnacle of her jockey career with a Melbourne Cup win, Michelle knew early on that her future in racing would involve a transition to training. “By the time I was 21, I recognised that I had to think about what I’d do when I finished riding,” she said. “Becoming a trainer was a logical step for me.”

Over the years, Michelle worked with some of the most respected trainers in Australia and overseas, gaining valuable experience that she now brings to her training operation. Her first major win as a trainer came in 2018 with Sweet Rockette at Moonee Valley. “She wasn’t an easy horse to train, but to get her to win a good race was exciting,” Michelle reflected.

Michelle’s transition into training was always part of the plan, and she’s now able to apply the knowledge and skills she’s honed over her career. Her partnership with Patrick is a natural extension of their shared passion and complementary skills. Most of their horses are based at Plumpton, where they have the perfect environment to continue developing their operation.

“We’ve been working closely together for the past 6-8 months, and we’ve really found our strengths,” Patrick said when the partnership was announced. “We complement each other well, and we both enjoy the hands-on work of horsemanship and strategic race placement.”

With their training partnership now in full swing, the Paynes are focused on expanding their operation and continuing to build on their success. With five runners on the card for VRC Summer Fun Race Day and the autumn carnival on the horizon, the Paynes’ shared vision for the future is clear: to combine their strengths and create a long-lasting, successful career as trainers.