Bangkok Hottie's Furious Stakes triumph signals bright future

David Payne appears to have another talented galloper in his stable with Randwick winner Bangkok Hottie.

Despite training a small team of sixteen horses, David Payne might have discovered his next major contender in Bangkok Hottie. This filly has outperformed a quality field of her peers to claim the Furious Stakes at Randwick.

Starting at $8.50, the three-year-old exhibited surprising early speed to position herself outside the leader, Pembrey, the heroine of the Silver Shadow Stakes. She then took the lead in the home stretch, successfully fending off Chilly Girl ($4), the Rosebud winner, by half a length.

Former Perth filly Striking Alibi ($21) made a strong late run from the back to secure third place, a further neck behind, in a promising Sydney debut.

Payne explained that he had a pre-race discussion with jockey Kerrin McEvoy regarding holding a closer position with Bangkok Hottie. This was in contrast to her previous start where she gave away too much ground when finishing second to Pembrey in the first leg of the Princess Series. However, he plans to revert to a more conservative riding strategy when she steps up in distance at her subsequent starts.

"We gave them a lot of start the other day and I said to Kerrin, 'have her a bit handier today. We don't want her in front, but a bit handier.' He was just worried about getting her some cover," Payne said.

Bangkok Hottie proved her versatility in getting the job done, and Payne confirmed her upcoming targets: the Tea Rose Stakes over 1400 metres in two weeks, followed by the Group 1 Flight Stakes over 1600 metres two weeks after that, assuming all conditions are favourable.

"She goes 14 (1400m in the Tea Rose Stakes) and then the Flight. We will be riding her a bit differently," he said.

"She is fit now. She's ready. I just hope all goes well."

The winner's stablemate, Krasina, also put in a notable performance to finish fourth. Payne will assess whether she will join Bangkok Hottie in the Tea Rose Stakes.

"I'll see what the jockey says. We might. Why not?" Payne commented.

"But she has been up a long time."

Pembrey, who started as the well-backed $2 favourite, tired in the latter stages to finish sixth. Jockey Tommy Berry indicated that the mare might benefit from having her races spaced further apart.

"She raced very flat today," Berry stated.

"The two week back-up obviously isn't her go. I doubt you will be seeing her on the back-up again."

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