Payne eyeing off bigger things with Warwick Farm winners

Randwick trainer David Payne won the first two races at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and in the process exposed two exciting autumn carnival prospects that can be followed.

Costello (Americain {USA}) stamped himself as a Derby contender when winning race 1, the 3-year-old benchmark 70, 1600 metres, while Deep Chill (Wandjina) is likely to head towards the Group 1 Sires and Champagne Stakes for 2-year-olds after taking out race 2, the 2-year-old maiden plate, 1200 metres.

Having his second run back this preparation, Costello ridden by Jason Collett appreciated stepping-up to a more suitable distance and showed great determination to finish hard along the rails and tip out Helga (Duporth) in a close finish.

“He found the 1400 metres at Rosehill first-up just a bit sharp for him and just needed the run”.

“When he won at Hawkesbury last preparation I thought this is my Derby horse and that’s the way we’ll head with him,” said trainer David Payne.

The son of the Melbourne Cup winner will now push on towards the traditional Derby lead-ups including the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, 2000 metres on March 23 before the Australian Derby run in the first week of April on day one of The Championships.

Costello was a $40,000 purchase at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He the sixth foal to race from dam La Famelia (Strategic), a four-time winner over sprint distances including the Listed Hareeba Stakes, 1200 metres.

Costello is a half-brother to Group 2 winner French Fern (Lope De Vega {Ire}) which was also trained by David Payne. French Fern was subsequently sold at the 2017 Inglis Chairman's Sale for $700,000 to China Horse Club.

Thirty-five minutes later Payne was back in the winner’s circle with 2-year-old Wandjina colt Deep Chill ridden by Hugh Bowman, recording his first win at his third start.

With the benefit of experience on his side, Deep Chill settled handy to the pace and was able to get off the leaders back the last 100 metres and run down Still Single (More Than Ready {USA}).
“He’s still doing a lot of things wrong. We took the blinkers off him today, he was very green the other day so he’s a horse that’s on the up” said Payne.

Deep Chill is already stakes-placed having finished third at his second start in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes, 1100 metres at Rosehill behind two very good colts in McLaren (Exceed And Excel) and Spring Loaded (Redoute’s Choice). Both are headed towards the Golden Slipper.

Deep Chill is likely to by-pass the Golden Slipper and will instead target the later 2-year-old Group 1 races in the autumn.

“He’s a nice horse and if you look at his breeding he should be getting over 1600 metres plus”.

“He’s more of a Sires’ [Group 1, 1400 metres on April 6] or Champagne [Group 1, 1600 metres on April 20] horse. The Slipper will be a bit sharp for him” said Payne.

Deep Chill is from dual Group 1 winning mare Eskimo Queen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}). Eskimo Queen won the 2007 Group 1 Queensland Oaks, 2400 metres and the 2008 Group 1 Coolmore Classic, 1500 metres. He is the fifth foal to race from Eskimo Queen and a half-brother to stakes winner Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock).

Deep Chill went through the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and was originally passed-in before owner John Cordina suggested Payne have a look at the colt and later negotiated a sale for $120,000.

“John said to me there is a horse that’s been passed-in and to come and have a look at him. So I looked at him and said he’s a nice horse. He paid $120,000 for him so he looks like a cheap buy now” said Payne.

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[13/02/2019]

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