David Payne couldn’t believe the price posted about Persian Wonder in the Ming Dynasty Quality at Rosehill, and his judgement proved spot-on as the gelding upset some higher-profile rivals to score.
Sent around a $19 chance despite being well weighted off his eye-catching fifth in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), Persian Wonder was kept out of the early speed battle by jockey Ash Morgan before bursting from the pack for an impressive win.
“He’s been a bit unlucky. I think he is learning to race now,” Payne said.
“He has taken a while, but he dropped three kilos from his last start, and he only got beaten a length or so by (Ming Dynasty rivals) Genesis Runner and Savagram. I thought, gee he comes into the race with a big chance.
“The form people, I don’t think they’re doing their job properly because his sectionals were very good and all he needs is a good pace and he’s getting stronger.”
Persian Wonder showed talent at two, finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Baillieu (1400m) and had reached the end of his preparation when unplaced in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Given the way he found the line over 1400m on Saturday, Payne is keen to stretch him in trip, nominating the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on October 10 as the three-year-old’s target and pending his performance there, the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick a fortnight later.
“He’s not bred to get a trip, but everybody who rides him says he’ll stay so we’ll go to the Gloaming now,” Payne said.
“The Gloaming and the Spring Champion, if he stays, we might go there.”
Morgan did a great job in the early stages to trail the busy speed while simultaneously not handing up his position from an inside draw.
He trailed James Mcdonald on Stormy Marco ($8) into the straight and reeled in that colt to score by a half-length with Tenenbaum ($4.80) another half-neck away third.
“James said, ‘you have some balls going there’, but I just wanted to hold my spot,” Morgan said.
“I really like the horse. He has a lot of ability but is still working it out.
“James gave his a great ride, and I just wanted to follow him through and have the last crack at them.”
Persian Wonder gave Payne his second black-type win in as many weeks after Bangkok Hottie took out the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last Saturday.
