Latest News

By John Curtis

He is named after a legendary cricketer and his trainer is hoping he can hit ‘em for six again at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

David Payne has dual representatives, Chappelli and Caboteur, in the Riding For The Disabled Class 1 Handicap (1500m), and considers the former his better prospect.

Chappelli (Christian Reith) scores at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

The well-named Chappelli is a son of Cox Plate winner Adelaide, and the South Australian capital was the home of Ian Chappell, who played 75 Test matches for Australia and was captain in 30 of them between 1971 and 1975.

Both stablemates are resuming off breaks and last start breakthrough victories – on heavy tracks within two days of each other.

Caboteur (by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think) shed his maiden status at his fifth start by scoring over 1600m at Wyong on December 9 on a Heavy 10 after second placings at Gosford (1600m) and Canterbury (1550m).

It took Chappelli only two starts to break through, also winning on a Heavy 10 over 1500m at Kembla Grange on December 11.

He had been placed on debut, also on a similar track rating, over 1550m at Canterbury on November 26 (Caboteur was runner-up in that race, and winner El Parmy scored again at his next start at Wyong on December 15).

“I’m pleased with how both horses are coming up, but feel tomorrow’s distance favours Chappelli,” Payne said this morning. “Caboteur will be better suited when he gets to 2000m.”

Talented apprentices Reece Jones and Tom Sherry, who have ridden five winners between them at Hawkesbury so far this season, have been booked for the Payne three-year-olds. Jones claims 1.5kg on Caboteur, whilst Sherry can no longer claim at the provincials.

Caboteur and Chappelli race in similar colours, with major part-owner Wayne Shelton in both horses.

Payne was one of three trainers who prepared Chappelli’s dam, the Northern Meteor mare Tramotane, and prepared her for both wins (at Kembla Grange in 2015). Chappelli is her first foal.

TAB.com.au this morning had Gulf Of Saros (Tommy Berry), runner-up over 1800m at Hawkesbury two starts back, as the $2.70 fixed odds favourite, with Chappelli at $4.20 and Caboteur $6.

Lightly-raced four-year-old Pending (Jason Collett), previously trained at Hawkesbury and now with Matt Smith at Warwick Farm, having not appeared since breaking through on his former home track last July, is at $5.

Class 1 topweight Miss Madison has been withdrawn from a Warwick Farm engagement today to line up at Hawkesbury, and Hugh Bowman has been booked.

Payne, who has four winners on the board at Hawkesbury this season, is looking forward to the $4m Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 9 during The Championships with last Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes winner Montefilia.

“She will definitely go to the Queen Elizabeth and not the Sydney Cup (3200m) the same day, and then spell,” he said. The Ranvet was Montefilia’s fourth Group 1 scalp, and boosted her earnings to nearly $2.4m.

Scone apprentice Jones, who trails Sherry by one win at Hawkesbury this season, also partners Steplee (Buy Better @ Inglis Easter Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1600m) for his master Rod Northam, and What A Peach (Bendigo Bank Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1300m) for fellow Scone trainer Scott Singleton. He has ridden both at their latest starts, and they were $6 chances in their respective races this morning.

Steplee finished sixth to Anethole in the H&NWRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Tamworth on March 6, whilst What A Peach was good in beating her own sex in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle two days earlier. That was the Your Song filly’s second win (along with two placings) from only six starts; a nice return on her $1750 purchase price as a weanling.

Entering tomorrow’s meeting, James Cummings (nine wins) led Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (seven wins) in the trainers’ premiership, and Josh Parr (12) led previous winner Rachel King (10) in the race for the jockeys’ title.

The rail is 1m out from the 400m to the winning post, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the track. A Soft 6 rating was posted this morning by course manager Rick Johnston.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here