Payne out to add Cox Plate to Cup glory

MICHELLE Payne hopes to tick off another of her dreams with English galloper Kaspersky in this year’s Cox Plate.

“Obviously everybody wants to win the Melbourne Cup as a jockey but the Cox Plate is so unique and it’s been one of my favourite races since I was about eight years old so to have an opportunity to ride in it will be amazing,” she said.

Kaspersky, who is trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, was one of the 15 international Cox Plate entries announced yesterday but at this stage he is the only horse definitely coming.

Payne, will take over training of the seven-year-old stallion after the spring, rode him to finish fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June behind Ribchester.

Payne said although Kaspersky hadn’t run at a distance further than 1600m she pointed out that the English tracks were more undulating and taxing than local ones and is confident he could run out 2000m.

Payne said the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 14 was the planned lead-in race for Kaspersky.

“He’s a class horse as you saw when he ran at Royal Ascot so all being well he’ll be out here and competing in the Cox Plate,” she said.

Payne headed back to London last night to ride in the Shergar Cup series at Ascot.

Payne also intends to find herself a 2017 Melbourne Cup prospect during her UK trip.