Trainers Double the Payne for Rivals

Sister and brother Michelle and Patrick Payne have been rubber-stamped as training partners, with their new venture set to debut on Saturday at Moonee Valley with last-start winner Trosettee. The partnership, approved on Wednesday, marks Michelle’s transition from race riding after she retired at the end of last season. She has been actively involved in Patrick’s stables, assisting with runners in South Australia and supporting him at Sandown. Michelle will bring her own stable’s runners into the new partnership. "It’s exciting and a bit of a change, but we’ve been preparing for this over the past six to eight months," Michelle said. "We work well together and complement each other’s strengths. Patrick excels at the behind-the-scenes work, and this allows him to focus on what he loves while knowing he has a dedicated team member." Patrick confirmed the stable will operate from both Ballarat and Plumpton. "We believe this setup will enhance our operations. Michelle brings fresh ideas and is great with the owners and staff, while I handle the background work and training at Ballarat for younger horses if needed." Though their brother Andrew was also considered as a potential partner, he has opted to continue running his own operation for now. “We might revisit involving Andrew in the future,” Patrick said. Their father, Paddy Payne, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting it’s a great opportunity for them to learn from each other and handle the challenges of training together.

Patrick and Michelle Payne are now official co-trainers (pic: Steve Hart)