 Melbourne based senior rider Patrick Payne gets a
great chance of grabbing a Sydney feature race on Saturday as the leading hoop partners
three good chances in the day's highlight events.The
top heavyweight hoop will ride the champion local Tie the Knot in his return to the track
in the Group Two $151,400 Expressway Stakes over 1200 metres.
Trained by Guy Walter, Tie the Knot hasn't started since
his trainer aborted a spring campaign after he finished fourteenth in the Group One
VicHealth Cup at Caulfield.
A winner of nine Group One races, Tie the Knot drew barrier
four in the field of eight.
His seven other opponents with jockeys and barrier draws
are El Mirada (Brian York, 2), Knickerbocker Kid (Danny Beasley, 3), Silver Castle (Larry
Cassidy, 6), Caissa (Greg Ryan, 1), Nanny Maroon (Robert Thompson, 7) and Viscount (not
notified, 5).
 Two races earlier Payne will throw his leg over
the Clarry Conners trained three-year-old Viking Ruler in the Group Two $151,400 Royal
Sovereign Stakes (1200m).
A winner of the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney last
preparation in great style, Viking Ruler was in the news yesterday when his full brother
was sold to Newlands Stud for NZ$800,000 at Karaka.
Viking Ruler last faced the starter in Melbourne and he
finished second to Ustinov in the Group Two AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley.
The other runners for the Royal Sovereign are Lonhro (6),
Red Hannigan (2), Newquay (1), Shags (3), Perfect Crime (7) and Into the Night (4).
Despite having an outside barrier Payne's mount in the
$151,400 Group Two Light Fingers Stakes, Quays must still have a great each way chance.
 The filly, who won the Wakeful Stakes at
Flemington in November, will have her work cut out trying to beat the in form Gai
Waterhouse trained star Ha Ha.
Quays is one of four runners for Conners. He will also
saddle up handy types Patterns, Dolce Veloce and Shovoff.
Others chasing the Light Fingers are Hosannah (3), Fair
Embrace (Greg Childs, 4), Patterns (Brian York, 8), Dolce Veloce (Chris Munce, 5),
Moonflute (2), Shouq (Danny Beasley, 9), The Big Chill (Steven Arnold, 13), Shovoff (Glen
Boss, 6), Fleecing (Hugh Bowman, 1), Ancient Song (Larry Cassidy, 11) and Faith Hill (Rod
Quinn, 7).
PICS - Quentin Lang. |
