By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
University of Queensland Vet student, Anna Payne, notched up her ninth career win in the last race at Redcliffe Paceway on Monday (October 9)… but just over an hour away in Purga, Denis Smith, would have been proud of both Payne and her younger sister, Anna, who also drove in the same race.
It was 19-year-old Payne’s seventh win at ‘The Triangle’ since taking out her licence in 2021. She’s also placed 25 times in her 148 career drives ($54,129) – not bad for a teenager, who has achieved all of this while both studying at West Moreton Anglican College and then UQ at Gatton.
Payne was having her first drive behind the Ricky Gordon trained Lord Denzel. The Pet Rock gelding (pictured) won by half a neck after Payne got a perfect run in the trail from gate two. The brown 7-year-old has now won 16 of his 192 starts ($98,745) since making his debut fifth at Bathurst in March 2018.
Payne’s 16-year-old sister, who has had 26 starts (three placings), finished eighth in the same race – the ‘Happy 80th Birthday Thelma Copeland Pace’ behind the Gordon trained Always At Night.
Payne open admits that had it not been for Denis Smith, she and her sister would never have got into harness racing.
“It was the school holidays, and I was 15 and in Year 10 at school and Anna was 13. I was into show-jumping at the time and were told that there were races at Marburg, so Anna and I went and had a look.
“We were watching the races and Denis overheard me say to my sister ‘Gee I’d like to try this’. She liked it too, and after talking to him we were both at his Purga stable the following week jogging a few trotters for him. We loved it.
“He helped us so much. He even sold a horse to us cheaply just so we could get our trials licences on. Her name was High Cloud Lass, and I leant a lot from her and Denis. My sister did the Mini Trotters at the time. I didn’t really do that when I was at school,” Payne said.
“Denis will always be special to us. I won my first race behind a Denis Smith trained trotter named Majestic Ess Jay at Albion Park (July 16, 2021). I’m sure Anna’s first win isn’t far away either. It’s a race she will never forget,” Payne said.
Haigslea horsemen Ricky Gordon would have been equally proud having the sisters fly his silver colours in race eight. The feeling was mutual.
“Ricky is one of few people that have given Anna and myself drives. I actually got to meet Ricky when Anna was driving for him at the Trials. Now I’ve been employed by him since Christmas last year.
“He is brilliant to work for and knows a lot, and let’s me work the horses around my study time,” the first-year Vet Tech student said.
Payne lives in Lyons (Logan), works 20km away in Haigslea, and studies at Gatton, 77km from her home.
“Time management is important to me. I’ve got a busy life getting to and from places, but on Sunday nights I like to map my week out around my studies, and of course any drives that come my way.
“I don’t get many, but want more, but I am getting more than I used to. I’d say about one every week or two. But If I get any opportunity to take a drive I jump right on it. We can’t thank Ricky enough for what he has done for us,” Payne said.
Amanda and Anna are the only children of Kate and Greg. While at school, she worked for Ryan Veivers at Harrisville and a lot of her early wins came via the 2013 For A Reason gelding, Geldof.
She said she didn’t expect to win on Monday.
“I went to the track first five would be realistic, but I also thought if I could get the trail, we could run a place, or even win, which is exactly the way it panned out. Lord Denzel is a lovely horse. He likes a good pat. I see him a lot at work and I’m so proud to have won on him first-up for Ricky,” Payne said.
For the record Payne was an above average student, who also excelled on the cello.
“I used to play in a cello consort at school, but haven’t really played it since I graduated from school. It’s been all Uni, work, riding horses and going to the gym now,” Payne said.
