Payne to make his training debut

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Deskdington Raceway on Friday night, where he is set to kick-off his training career.

The Canterbury horseman has long held ambitions of entering the training ranks and that dream will come to fruition when he lines-up Another Love in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace (1980m).

“It is really exciting, I am really looking forward to it,” said Payne, who also part-owns the filly.

The daughter of Terror To Love was previously trained by Payne’s father Greg for who she won one of her six starts last season and placed in her five other outings, including the Gr.3 Leonard Memorial Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Caduceus Club Of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic (2200m).

She was set to contest the Gr.1 Harness Jewels 2YO Diamond (1609m) at Cambridge Raceway in June, however, a paddock incident put an end to those plans.

“It was a shame that she got hurt up in Cambridge at the Jewels,” Payne said.

“Two days out from the Jewels I brought her in out of the paddock and she had a cut on her knee, we still don’t know how it happened. She was quite sore, so it wasn’t worth the risk, and we had to pull the pin.

“We gave her six weeks out to let it all heal up and just jogged her lightly for a wee while until it was completely healed, then we could start upping her work.

“She has come through it really well and seems really well in herself.”

Payne is heading into Friday optimistic of a good showing from his filly, particularly after drawing gate two.

“I haven’t given her a trial but her work has been really good and she has got a nice draw, so I can’t see why she can’t be in the top three,” he said.

Payne first became acquainted with Another Love while working at trainer Ken Barron’s property and he said he was lucky enough to negotiate her purchase as a young juvenile.

“A guy who helps out Ken Barron (employer), David Pearce, had her there as a young two-year-old and I quite liked her. He just wanted out of everything so I said I wouldn’t mind buying her. He said ‘make an offer’ and it has gone from there,” Payne said.

“She seems to be getting better and better the more we do with her. I’d say she is going to be a lovely three-year-old filly.”

Having taken out his trainer’s license at the start of the season, Payne is enjoying his time working his small team and is hoping to build on his numbers in the near future.

“I have got about five yearlings in work. I usually finish at Ken’s about midday and then I come out to Dad’s property where I train,” Payne said.

“I started off driving and I really enjoyed it in the first couple of years, but I am enjoying the training side a bit more these days.”

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