Trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne are opting for a quieter spring campaign for four-year-old stayers Wings Of Song and Bold Soul. Both horses have been back in training for a month, with Payne aiming to let them progress through the grades without pushing too hard this season.
Wings Of Song has an impressive record, including six wins, the Tasmanian Oaks, and a Group 3 Auraria Stakes victory, while Bold Soul claimed the Tasmanian Derby and Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes. “We’ll let the spring four-year-olds go and then let them go through the grades,” Payne said, adding that opportunities in staying races will come later if they prove their ability.
Meanwhile, Payne’s Group 2 winner Seonee is nearing a return after recent jumpouts. While Payne is unsure about her competitiveness on good ground, he believes she could be a force on softer surfaces, with potential targets like The Invitation and Empire Rose Stakes.