Punters were lukewarm on the prospects of Shohisha handling a sharp distance rise at Randwick but for trainer David Payne, it was never in doubt.
Despite being sent around as the rank outsider of the seven-horse Drinkwise Mile (1600m) field, Shohisha ($15) showed her class to come from last and nail Pippie Beach ($13) by a nose.
It was her first test at the mile and followed a head-scratching performance in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone last month when she finished out of the placings.
But Payne, a champion horseman in his native South Africa and the trainer of more than 100 Group 1 winners, was adamant Shohisha was looking for the extra journey and that gave him the confidence to step her up 500m in journey.
“In England, this is how they train and in South Africa, it’s a lot like the English. We step them out first time over 1600,” Payne said.
“Even the owner was very worried but she is a very good filly.
“If it’s in the genes, they will get the 1600 as long as they’re fit. It’s common sense. I was a jockey and if you run a horse out of their comfort zone, run them over 1000 metres, you’re ‘push, push’ and it’s a harder race than when you run them in a 1400 or 1600 because you jump and then you sit.”
Payne has made no secret of the fact he has a high opinion of Shohisha.
The filly finished runner-up at stakes level at her third start and just over three lengths from Lady Shenandoah in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) in February.
He is keen to again test her at black-type level and with that in mind, the filly will be spelled with a long-term view to the spring carnival races.
“She will go to the paddock now, just for a couple of weeks, and we will bring her back for the carnival,” Payne said.
“We’ll look at the fillies (and mares) races.
“She has always been a good filly. I don’t know what happened at Scone and then she drew wide last week so I scratched her. But this is what she is looking for, the mile. It’s what she wants.”
Shohisha was partnered to victory by Tom Sherry, who admitted he was concerned by the slow early tempo but also knew he was aboard a talented and fit horse.
“Obviously, Mr Payne is a master at jumping them up massively in trip. From 1100m to 1600m is not an easy task,” Sherry said.
“Off the slow tempo, I was able to utilise her turn of foot and I was extremely happy with her performance today.
“I have a lot of time for this filly. She has a great attitude.”
