MELBOURNE Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne was happy with the performance of her first runner as a trainer at Warrnambool on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
New Zealand bred filly Queen Of Zealand ran second beaten nearly five lengths by Royal Butterfly when she made her Australian debut in a maiden over 1700 metre.
Payne said the three-year-old will be entered for the $300,000 Wakefield Stakes at Flemington on October 29.
“I thought Queen Of Zealand ran well,” she said. “I galloped her on Monday morning at home but I think missing runs at Stawell and Cranbourne meant she was just fresh for the first 400 metres. “I thought just before the home corner that she could still win. Her effort was good because she was running against older horses.
“I think she’s got a bright future. We’ll enter her in the Wakefield and see what happens.”
Warrnambool trained horses won six of the eight races on the program.