Double for David Payne

1st January 2008

In-form South African trainer David Payne scored a winning double at Randwick on New Year’s Day with well-backed runners Hurried Choice (pictured) and Eagle Rock both finding the winner’s circle.

Quality filly Hurried Choice (3f Choisir - Hustle Bustle, by Catrail) improved from her first up second to subsequent stakes-winner Al Be Nimble when finishing off powerfully to win the Ratings 93 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Winner of the Listed AJC Gimcrack Stakes as a juvenile at the start of last season, Hurried Choice has been thereabouts in the better races since then, but had her spring cut short as a result of EI.

“She’s a top class filly and we’ll turn her out now and look at the better races in the autumn,” said David Payne.

One of a string of recent winners sired by young shuttle sire Choisir, Hurried Choice was secured by Payne for $150,000 from the draft of Bellerive Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Raced by South African based owner Marcus Jooste, Hurried Choice has won three races and placed twice from eight starts winning $250,000 in prizemoney.

Hurried Choice is the first foal of Hustle Bustle, an unraced half-sister by Catrail (USA) to former smart stakes-winning filly Miss Bussell.

Payne also scored earlier in the day with the smart three year-old Eagle Rock (3g Galileo - American Cash, by American Chance) , a progressive sort who relished the step up to 1600 metres when winning the Ratings 81 event against the older horses.

Raced in the same interests as Payne’s classy Galileo mare Gallant Tess, Eagle Rock has won two races and $60,950 in prizemoney with his best still ahead of him.

“He’s still learning and when he settles a bit better he’ll definitely run a trip being by Galileo,” said Payne.

Purchased for $100,000 from the draft of Haunui Farm by Dominion Bloodstock, Eagle Rock is the second foal of the imported stakes-winner American Cash from a family of international Group One winners.