Paynes join Egan in Caulfield races double
A Caulfield raceday double provided the perfect belated birthday gift for trainer Patrick Payne, whose team of Jimmy The Bear and Stop The Rock delivered successive wins on Saturday.
Payne, training in partnership with Michelle Payne, was all smiles as Jimmy The Bear took out the VOBIS Gold Heath (2000m) before Stop The Rock surged home to win the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap.
Jimmy The Bear, last week’s Winter Championship Final (1600m) winner, justified his short $1.70 quote from top betting sites by producing a composed display under Billy Egan, extending his earnings past $1.37 million.
“It was a textbook ride from Billy, and Jimmy just kept responding,” said Michelle Payne. “He’s such a trier and an absolute favourite around the stable.”
Later, Stop The Rock overcame early trouble to claim his fourth win in five starts, highlighting the stable’s growing firepower heading into spring.
“He had every reason to pack it in after copping a check early, but he showed real grit to get the job done,” Michelle said.
With both horses on upward trajectories, spring plans are on the radar — but so too is appreciation for the longevity and care the stable puts into their team.
Betting interest in both horses was high, with punters able to access the latest odds through Australian betting platforms.
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