Rosehill trainer David Payne supports the Australian Jockey Club's controversial decision to move Saturday's Chipping Norton Stakes meeting from Warwick Farm to Randwick and believes it could provide Gallant Tess with the edge she needs in the Group One feature.The former Randwick-based Payne said that while he sympathises with the Warwick Farm trainers and local punters he believes the move is better from a racing perspective.Along with Gallant Tess, Payne will run Hurried Choice in the Chippin
Rosehill trainer David Payne supports the Australian Jockey Club's controversial decision to move Saturday's Chipping Norton Stakes meeting from Warwick Farm to Randwick and believes it could provide Gallant Tess with the edge she needs in the Group One feature.
The former Randwick-based Payne said that while he sympathises with the Warwick Farm trainers and local punters he believes the move is better from a racing perspective.
Along with Gallant Tess, Payne will run Hurried Choice in the Chipping Norton Stakes and said both produced encouraging track gallops on Tuesday morning ahead of their 1600m assignments.
The stakeswinning duo galloped on the course proper at Rosehill with Payne over the moon with the pair.
"They just had nice top-ups, there is no need to gallop them at Randwick this week, they are both so fit and I'm expecting them both to go very close," Payne said.
The South African-born trainer also launched the pair at the Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21.
Gallant Tess finished third while Hurried Choice ran second after leading for most of the trip only to be reeled in late by the fast-finishing Tuesday Joy who will also contest the Chipping Norton.
"I was very happy with their runs and they've done very well since," Payne said.
But it's the move to Randwick which has Payne excited about the chances of Gallant Tess in particular.
"I was concerned about her running on the tight Warwick Farm circuit but now we are at Randwick I know that she will relish it," Payne said.
"She's a big horse who needs room to wind up and produce her best and she will get that on Saturday, it's a Group One track."
Gallant Tess landed two of her biggest career wins at Randwick last year when she claimed a couple of Group Two races, the Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and the Breeders' Classic (1200m).
Hurried Choice won the 2008 Group Two Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick and the Gimcrack Stakes at the same venue as a two-year-old.
"She can't be left out of the equation and will be running a big race I'm sure," Payne said.
Payne said that Brad Pengelly was likely to ride Gallant Tess but he hadn't found a rider for Hurried Choice with most of the top hoops in Melbourne for Super Saturday at Flemington featuring the Australian Cup, Newmarket Handicap and Australian Guineas.