The record books are against his horse but Sydney trainer David Payne insists Criterion can end a hoodoo for Black Opal Stakes winners in the Golden Slipper.
“Out of all the two-year-olds going around, he has the most improvement,” Payne said.
Criterion ($5) travelled wide in the second half of the field in Sunday’s Listed race but he overpowered his rivals after sweeping into the action as the field turned for home.
He ran down the $3.80 favourite Sidestep to win the $250,000 feature and give jockey Glyn Schofield the first of two feature race wins during Canberra’s most important meeting of the year on Sunday.
“He beat Sweet Idea and that filly came out and won in Sydney last week but he has got more improvement than all of them,” Payne said.
It has been 14 years since a Black Opal winner went on to claim the Golden Slipper but Payne, who was still training in South Africa when Catbird became the only horse so far to complete the double, isn’t concerned by the task ahead.
“I don’t believe in history,” he said. “Everything works out.”
Despite his reluctance to acknowledge how hard it is to win both races, Payne said there were signs not so obvious on Sunday that made him believe Criterion could post the most important win of his short career.
Before the race he met some part-owners of Criterion’s sire, the 2008 Golden Slipper winner Sebring.
“The omens were with us today and hopefully they will be again on Golden Slipper day,” Payne said.
Schofield was forced to navigate a wide passage on Criterion but Payne said it boosted the colt’s chances.
“The wide draw probably helped him because he’s got a big action and they went along for him,” he said.
“He’s up there with them because he’s covered more ground than anything.”
Payne imagines the usually furious tempo of a Golden Slipper will also suit a horse who continues to learn his trade.
“I put the blinkers on him today after what he did last start and I think he’s going to get even better again,” he said.
Sidestep fought hard for jockey Kerrin McEvoy to keep the winning margin to a long neck with the Canberra-trained Meticulously ($26) taking the minor placing.
