David Payne will be striving to land his second Group One sprint crown in as many weeks, this time with Winter King in Saturday’s Galaxy at Randwick.
The former South African trainer was to the fore at the same venue last weekend when Master Of Design ($31) landed an upset victory in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
Winter King is also at good odds for Saturday’s Group One Galaxy (1100m) at $21, despite his superior wet track form.
Randwick is expected to be heavy and Winter King has two wins and two seconds from four starts in the mud.
“He looks to have found the right conditions on Saturday,” Payne said.
Winter King will need to break a frustrating run of outs to win the Galaxy with his last victory coming 20 months ago in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).
Since then he has notched 10 minor placings in black-type races, seven of those seconds.
The most recent was last start in the Sebring Stakes when he was runner-up to Zaratone with Master Of Design third.
Prior to that, Payne was critical of Michael Walker’s ride in the Challenge Stakes when he took on the speedy Rain Affair for the lead and Winter King wilted to run last.
That followed a first-up fourth in the Expressway and midfield effort in the Oakleigh Plate when he was beaten less than three lengths.
Payne said the five-year-old had continued to thrive in the stable and with even luck from his good draw in four was capable of fighting out the finish.
“He’s very well. He ran second the other day in the Sebring and he was badly ridden the time before,” Payne said.
“I’d say he will settle in the first couple. He just needs a nice run.”
In an open betting race, TAB Sportsbet has Victorian Bel Sprinter the $5 favourite for the Galaxy.
The four-year-old was a last-start fourth to Rain Affair at his Sydney debut in the Challenge Stakes but he is untested on ground worse than dead.
Nobby Snip, who has also been paid up for Sunday’s Gosford Guineas, is next pick at $6.
Four horses share the third line of betting at $10, including three-year-olds Hot Snitzel and Elite Falls.
