6 Nov 2016
A year on from her greatest success, Michelle Payne was back in the winner's enclosure at Flemington courtesy of an exciting son of Cambridge Stud sire Tavistock.
Payne won last year's Melbourne Cup on Prince Of Penzance and a year later, on the same date, she was successful in a minor race on Oaks day.
Riding the Henry Dwyer-trained Tavi Bay, Payne guided the four-year-old to victory in the Red Rock Deli Plate.
Tavi Bay scored by a half neck victory over Spanner Head.
Payne was quick to recognise Brendan Tohill, the manager of Shergar Thoroughbreds, for giving her the opportunity aboard Tavi Bay.
Tohill also part-owns Queen Of Zealand, the filly Payne also trains who had been in line for a start in the VRC Oaks.
"Brendan has taken me on as stable rider for Shergar Thoroughbreds so it's great to get a winner for him on Oaks day," Payne said.
"It's been a long-range plan to get her here for this race and it's great when those plans are realised."
Dwyer landed his first carnival winner at Flemington and said the race had been picked out for Tavi Bay right from the time the mare came into work three months ago.
Tavi Bay was purchased from the draft of Fairdale Stud from their 2014 NZB South Island draft.
Meanwhile, Tavistock filly Harlow Gold has recorded a slashing second in the Gr.1 Victorian Oaks at Flemington, running home strongly over 2500m behind all-the-way upset winner Lasqueti Spirit.
Harlow Gold looks an exciting Oaks prospect for next year and could yet return to Flemington for next year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup. ? NZ Racing Desk