Racing
Payne locked in for Tassie
An eye-catching effort to finish just behind the placegetters in a 2000m race at Flemington last Saturday convinced co-trainer Patrick Payne his former Tasmanian Derby winner Bold Soul was on track to tackle the two major cups during the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival.
Payne, who shares a training partnership with his sister Michelle, earmarked the Hobart Cup for Bold Soul at the start of his preparation, which began in the Werribee Cup over 1600m in early December last year.
The five-year-old gelding was having his third start this time when he rattled home close to the rails to finish fourth to Saint George in a BM100 last Saturday, missing a minor place by the barest of margins.
"It was a super effort last Saturday, so we are more than happy to continue with plans to come to Tassie for the Hobart Cup," Patrick Payne said.
"He will have another run here in Melbourne at Caulfield over 2000m, and provided he comes through that race intact, we'll send him on the boat a few days before the Hobart Cup."
Bold Soul will have a travelling companion in Jimmy The Bear, who will tackle two feature weight-for-age races. The $150,000 Thomas Lyons over 1400m on Hobart Cup Day and the $150,000 Hellova Street Stakes over 1600m on Launceston Cup Day (25 February).
"Jimmy the Bear is being weighted out of races at home, so the weight-for-age conditions will suit him.
"He is racing well, so I have no doubt he will be very competitive over there."
Jimmy the Bear flashed home from well back to finish third in the VOBIS Gold Reef at Flemington last Saturday, a race won by Merrigold that carried the minimum of 54kg while Jimmy the Bear lugged top weight of 61kg.
Payne said he has a couple of three-year-olds that might still make the cut for a Tassie trip.
"We've got three-year-olds that have shown a bit and a couple that might still measure up to feature races in Tassie, but we will know more after their next runs."
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