After a stellar career in the saddle Patrick Payne is emerging as a serious trainer of jumpers.
Earlier this month No Song No Supper provided Payne with a third Grand Annual Steeplechase while on Saturday he pocketed another feature jumps race at Sandown.
Angelology, The Australian Steeplechase
Angelology, a horse part-owned by his sisters, former jockeys Cathy and Maree, took out the Australian Steeplechase under a perfect ride by Brad McLean.
Heavily supported from $3.50 to run the $2.80 favourite, Angelology scored a 3-3/4 length win from Wells ($8) with Zataglio ($8.50) 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Angelology’s Australian Steeplechase win was Payne’s second having claimed the race in 2014 with Krase.
Payne described Angelology as a family pet but joked it can be difficult training for his sisters who are married to Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Brett Prebble.
“They’ve been giving me instructions for the last week telling me how to train him,” Payne said.
“Cathy’s good to deal with but Maree likes to put her two bobs’ worth in.
“When Maree starts to tell me what to do I put the phone down, put the kettle on and make a cup of tea and when I come back she’s still carrying on.
“But it’s great for the family. It gives us all something to talk about.”
While Angelology was successful in Saturday’s feature, Payne doubts the jumper has the class to be a contender in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat in August.
Instead, he is likely to be set for the Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool in July.
McLean landed his second Australian Steeplechase and said after riding Angelology last year he had established a fair opinion of the horse.
After Angelology ambled up to be behind the leaders at the turn McLean was confident of success.
“He only had to jump the last and then it was race over,” he said.
Craig Durden, assistant trainer for wife Kathryn, was happy with the return performance to the bigger jumps of 2014 Grand National Steeplechase winner Wells.
“He never missed a fence and the five kilos at the end of the race probably told the difference,” Durden said.
