One of the stars of the Melbourne Cup barrier draw will have his chance to be a part of the action in the great race.
Steve Payne, the elder brother of jockey Michelle, predicted he would draw barrier one for Prince Of Penzance in Tuesday’s race.
Despite being born with Down Syndrome, Steve has an important role in the stable of Darren Weir.
He is the second youngest of 10 Payne children and only one of two not to become a jockey.
Payne has been a part of Weir’s Ballarat base for the past eight or nine years and Weir says he deserves to be part of the action on Tuesday.
He will share duties with Prince Of Penzance’s regular strapper Maddy who looks after the gelding at Weir’s Warrnambool stable.
Prince Of Penzance is one of the three of the longest-priced runners at $101 for Tuesday’s race.
He’s had his battles to make his way into the race, overcoming surgery for bone chips in a fetlock joint before a bout of colic.
With that behind him Prince Of Penzance earned his shot at the Cup finishing second to The United States in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 24.
Weir said his Warrnambool staff, headed by Jarrod McLean, deserved the credit for getting the stayer to the Cup in top shape.
“He’s drawn barrier one which is the shortest way home and he’s had a great prep for the race,” Weir said.
“I’m not sure whether he’s good enough but a top 10 finish would be a good result.”
It will be Michelle Payne’s second ride in the Cup. She partnered Allez Wonder into 16th place in 2009 for Bart Cummings.
