Triumph for Payne family in Queensland Cup

Saturday 6 July 2013, 4:12pm

Michelle Payne admits she put brotherly love to the test to gain the winning Queensland Cup ride on Turner Bayou.

Payne's persistence paid off when her brother Patrick, the trainer of Turner Bayou ($3), finally agreed to book her to ride the son of Zabeel in the Cup.

"I know what a good stayer this horse is and I was at Patrick for weeks and weeks to put me on in this race," she said.

"It was only in the last week that he gave me the nod for the ride."

Turner Bayou's win was a quick turnaround in fortunes for Payne at Eagle Farm on Saturday after she was first past the post a race earlier only to be relegated to fourth on protest.

She was concerned when a pre-race plan to track the favourite Ibicenco ($2.60) came unstuck.

"My plan was to follow Ibicenco but I ended up behind another horse and I was cursing for the first half of the race," she said.

"Then I copped a squeeze at the 800-metre mark and he lost balance but fortunately he was able to pick himself up quickly."

Payne said she was confident of winning when Turner Bayou was cruising on the home turn.

"He tracked into the race really nicely and being a genuine stayer when I needed his stamina to kick in it did," she said.

Turner Bayou will be spelled before he is aimed at next year's Adelaide Cup.

"He's still a big raw horse who is learning what it's all about but he's got terrific staying ability," Patrick Payne said.

"I was confident he'd be suited today because when the track is wet it becomes more of a staying contest and that's his go."

Brad Rawiller said Ibicenco travelled well but was disappointed with his effort to finish fifth.

"Everything went to plan in the race but he didn't quicken the way I thought he would in the straight," Rawiller said.

– AAP

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