Patrick & Michelle Payne and Billy Egan have a strong record in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) and Buccleuch may just be the best of all.
Patrick Payne notched up his third win in the race and second in conjunction with Egan, who also rode Cherry Tortoni in the same colours to win the race in 2020.
Heavily supported into $1.45 with bookmakers, Buccleuch settled midfield under Egan and the topweight of 59kg, clearing out to score by 3-1/4 lengths over Bermondsey ($31) with a long neck to Arcora ($4.40) in third.
Michelle Payne hinted that a light Spring may be on the cards for Buccleuch with a possible focus on the Autumn of 2026.
“He’s just still learning what it’s all about, he got a bit keen,” Payne said.
“But just a lovely horse who has always showed us really nice potential.
Patrick’s really keen on the autumn for him. He said he’s doing it now nicely against the winter sort of class two-year-olds, but he might be a bit left behind in the early three-year-old days, but look, he’s only doing what is asked of him.”
“He’s all class and a lovely galloper.”
Egan compared the win favourably to subsequent Group 1 placegetter Cherry Tortoni, who lumped 61kg to victory five years earlier.
“He put a bit more of a margin on them than what Cherry Tortoni did when he won,” Egan said.
“I think the horse that ran second to Cherry Tortoni (Alcyone) was probably half-handy itself anyway.
He was probably a little happier with himself going into today’s race, so I just took a couple of strides to get him back under me, and then when he switched off, he just travelled like a winner the whole way.”
