By Tayler Strong
The West Melton horseman Greg Payne can take satisfaction from the brilliant form of the 2-year-old pacing filly, My Sweetchilliphilly.
She won the final of the Bathurst Gold series for fillies last Saturday night by 20.9 metres in a scorching 1.54.7 mile rate for the 1730m (mobile).
The daughter of Betterthancheddar – Tact Philly has won her two other starts, both by wide margins at Bathurst in 1 55.3 rate. Payne was the co-breeder of My Sweetchilliphilly; broke her in and had her running along until six weeks before her first race.
My Sweetchilliphilly, co-bred by Melissa Tapp, of Hinds was exported to Australia early in January after being sold to patrons of the stable of Shane and Lauren Tritton.
“She had not been to a trial or a a workout but she ran a half in 56 when Mark Jones trialled her for an Australian agent,’’ said Payne, a licence holder who is mainly in the business of buying and selling horses.
He has about 20 in work.
Payne and Tapp bought Tact Philly for $5500 at a PGG Wrightson all aged sale in Auckland in August, 2013 when she was offered by Breckon Bloodstock Limited. She was rising 11.
“She (Tact Philly) had left a couple of winners and she was in foal to Bettor’s Delight (then standing at a fee of $11,000 and now $16,000),” said Payne.
Bettor’s Delight has been the leading New Zealand sire the past five seasons. Tact Philly (In The Pocket – Class Act), who qualified but did not race had left the winners The Oyster Bar (three in NZ and 12 in Australia) and Tactful Lady (five in NZ and seven in Australia).
She has since left winners Max Phactor (five) and Eye Brow. Class Act has left six winners, among them Classical, who won the 2002 Caduceus Club Classic, the Fillies Championship and Yearling Sales Final at two and Sales Final at three. A brother,The Lead won 30 races in North America and took a record of 1.52.
Tact Philly foaled a filly by Bettor’s Delight who was sold to Paulette Screen, of Pukekohe and as Eye Lash ran third at Alexndra Park last Friday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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