Iam Mr Brightside, sold by Greg Payne at the annual 2YO Trialling Sale at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, scores a Group win there. This year's sale, sponsored by Garrards Horse & Hound, is set for Sunday, December 7.
For the third time in as many years, noted New Zealand horseman Greg Payne will bring a team of horses to Australia - and won't start any of them!
As he has since 2012, the Christchurch-based expert young horse conditioner will bring a string of two-year-olds across the Tasman for the annual Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale at Tabcorp Park, Menangle.
This year's sale will be held on Sunday, December 7 - the morning after the Treuer Memorial - from 8.30am, with the auction to start at the conclusion of the trials, about 1pm.
Payne boasts an admirable strike rate from his previous drafts, which include the former fastest Australasian three-year-old, Iam Mr Brightside (3, 1:51.6).
There could be as many as seven youngsters in this year's consignment, with Payne being "high" on a Courage Under Fire colt and fillies by Bettors Delight and Mach Three.
"There's no way I bring my entire 'baby' crop across - I select them, based on breeding and type in the first instance, then on how they have broken-in and come to hand," he said.
"For this exercise, I'm specifically targeting young horses which would suit the Australian style of racing."
There's considerable expense with not only the transport, but also the logistics and import clearance fees, so Payne knows he must hit the target.
"But I'm pragmatic to understand the market, and there's no upside with me bringing horses across to leave them here," he said. "All mine are on the market, reasonably-priced and I'm willing to take my chances on sale day.
"I bring them across a week or so before the sale to settle them in locally at the Morris family's Lucky Lodge, which is across the road from the complex.
"There's so much money around for fillies that I'm anxious to include them in my draft, and given the vast amount of stakes around for young stock, two and three-year-olds, mine will do a job early, and stay on later, because I don't over-tax them. It's all about preparation for a long career."
Payne said he is buoyed by the way he has been taken into the fold by the New South Wales industry, and is in awe of the complex at Tabcorp Park, Menangle.
"I had heard so much about it, but seeing was believing - I'm excited to be coming back, because I hear that there are always continual improvements to it," he said.
Payne is 'bred' for success: brothers Greg and Ross, off-and-on, have off-sided legendary New Zealand trainer, Mark Purdon, while Ross previously trained the star trotter, Blitzthemcalder.
Although Greg trains a small team in his own right, his business is prepping young stock for exciting racing careers.
And now, he's getting down to business...see 'The Payne Class of 2014' at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, on December 7.
