Michelle Paynes satellite stable in Queensland is off and running.
Payne has a handful of horses in work up north currently with last start winner Templar to join the team this week. Her first runner was at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday when Smokin Pierro finished fourth.
It gets so strong every year (in Victoria) and I think Smokin Pierro hes a nice horse, but I think we will be able to have a lot of fun with him up there, Payne said.
I just thought if hes flying and we decided to bring him back down for some of the country cups or something we can still do that.
Hes really thrived in the warmer climate and has been up a fair while and hes been racing really well here but I thought a change would do him the world of good and it seems to have worked.
He went really well over the shorter distance yesterday, usually hes best over 2000 metres so for him to be hitting the line like that shows he is enjoying his racing up there.
Templar has returned after more than two years on the sidelines with a win and two placings from his three starts, and heads to the Sunshine Coast after scoring by 2.75 lengths at Echuca last month.
Hes been in work a long time because he had to rehab from his injury and he was still doing his work fine and won last start, but you could just see he was getting a bit sick of it, Payne admitted.
So Ive just given him two weeks out in the paddock and hes thriving and the change going up there and working at the beach it would just be a really good move.
He was bred up there and his owner is keen to see him race up there as well, so I just thought it would be a really good fit and hed be a lot of fun.
While COVID-19 restrictions have restricted Payne from keeping an eye on her Queensland team, Payne has left the stable in the capable hands of good friend and former jockey Nikita Beriman.
Shes doing a really great job, shes 100 per cent in in the whole idea and the team, Payne said of Berimans role.
She is giving it her all and I couldnt be happier.
Before we rented the stables I went up and had a look at them with Nikita.
Theyre beautiful just off course at Caloundra at the Sunshine Coast and they have paddocks they can go out to during the day, which is a lot like my farm so its the way I like to train.
The facilities are at the Sunshine Coast and we went down to the beach where we take the horses and its ideal for what we want.
It would be nice to be up there with Nikita, it would have been nice to go up in winter time that was my plan but unfortunately we were stuck here but hopefully in the future.
As much as I love training in Ballarat its just nice if we want that option.
You still have horses down here that love the wet ground but then youve got the option if they are good enough for the carnival we can take up there.
In other stable news, Payne is set to be without two of her key players for this years spring carnival after setbacks with Frankel colt Serlik and German import Arabica.
Unfortunately Serlik had some complications with his tie back so he is out for the spring, Payne revealed.
Its just one of things that can happen with the operation but hopefully he can come through it and we can get him back into training once hes over it.
Arabica had a little bit of a hold up in quarantine, she didnt pass the blood test initially and then we had her retested and she was ok so shes been put back a month to come out.
It was looking like not being able to come to Australia so at least she has passed that.
She is probably out for the spring, but I thought she was potentially a better autumn horse anyway so I am looking forward to that.
Im looking at buying a horse from New Zealand which can hopefully come over and race for the spring so that will be a bit of fun.
Its great to be back, it took me a little longer than I thought but I just wasnt able to train on my leg and it was really sore for a while and still has a bruise and a hematoma there now, said Payne.
Its something I am still getting worked on but am able to get back and get fit and it was great to be back out there on the weekend especially at The Valley it was beautiful weather and the track is such a beautiful one to ride on.
Payne rode her own horse Mark The Horse to finish fifth.