Prime Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd

23/06/2026

Onwards and Upwards

Momentslikethese, the top 2yo filly in Tasmania this season and Miss Lyra who was 2nd in the Tasmanian Sires last season barrier trialled very nicely for Stuart Gandy in Hobart on Monday. The fillies are set to resume on Sunday 5 July in Hobart with Momentslikethese in the time honoured Alexandra Plate before she then steps out to 1400m in the Tasmanian Sires.



Naughty Nurse heads to Tamworth on Friday for Kris Lees with top apprentice William Stanley riding the mare. She is certain to appreciate the Soft 6 track and a nice barrier would also be a big help.



Saturday is looming as a busy day with last start winner The Devil In Her with Jake Noonan to ride and The Cunning Fox at Caulfield for Patrick Payne.

The John Thompson trained Flying Embers heads to Rosehill with William Stanley to claim 3kg.

We have a number of horses being aimed at races next week including a couple of Metropolitan runners. Watch this space!!!

Check out our yearlings at:

primethoroughbreds.com.au

21/06/2026

21/06/2026

Tasmanian Team

We kick off the week with important barrier trials in Hobart with Momentslikethese, the top 2yo filly in Tasmania this season and Miss Lyra who was 2nd in the Tasmanian Sires last season heading to the trials for Stuart Gandy. They are set to resume on Sunday 5 July in Hobart with Momentslikethese in the time honoured Alexandra Plate before she then steps out to 1400m in the Tasmanian Sires.

She is first season sire Tiger of Malay’s best performing filly with a win and second placings in the Listed Elwick Stakes and Gold Sovereign Stakes to her credit.

Saturday 27 June 2026

Saturday is looming as a busy day with last start winner The Devil In Her ​with Jake Noonan booked to ride with Bill Egan unavailable and The Cunning Fox also heading to Caulfield for Patrick Payne with a rider to be confirmed.

Not much as gone right this preparation for the John Thompson trained Flying Embers with her nominated for Rosehill on Saturday with William Stanley booked to ride the mare.

The Naughty Nurse will be nominated in a couple of places with Kris Lees weighing up his options with her.

I’llbethere was ballotted out at Pakenham today with Patrick looking at his options for the young stayer. He may head to Bendigo on Thursday. He will need one more run before he is ready to show his best. He is by Reliable Man, the sire of The Cunning Fox.

Emmadella and Signed By A Kiss head to Sandown on 1 July, Mr Markle to Moe on 3 July with Bine and Himeno to Sandown on 8 July. Power Of The Brave heads to Randwick on 11 July with Cavalry Girl likely to run that day at Caulfield before heading to Morphettville for the Listed Lightning Stakes

Zukuro is set to trial on Thursday at Burrumbeet before making her race debut.

Weekend Wrap Up

I was surprised when I got to Donald on Saturday to discover jusy how heavy the track was. It was a Heavy 10, in fact bottomless although put out at a Heavy 8 prior to the meeting. It is best to forget Brazen Warrior went around. He had no hope from barrier one.

Secret Hell put in an honest effort at Ballarat running home nicely for third although he seemed to resent the kick back and was covered in sand and fibre when he returned after the race.

Savabeel RIP

I was sad to hear of Savabeel’s passing, what a magnificent servant he was for the breeding industry in NZ. He is the dam sire of Naughty Nurse. His pedigree represented was amazing with him being by Zabeel out of a Success Express mare.

Royal Ascot

James McDonald and Zac Lloyd flew the flag for Australia and NZ with James displaying his extraordinary riding talents and Zac announcing to the world he is a star on the rise. Congratulations to both of them.

Joliestar was terrific and failed by the smallest margin to join the list of Australian trained sprinters to win at the famous carnival. She earned A$202,000 for her third placing.

The prizemoney in Australia is very good. She earned $270,000 for her third placing in the Champions Sprint at Flemington in November.

08/06/2026

PRIME THOROUGHBREDS IS ON A ROLL

John Shepley

Before I update Patrick's performance for us I was saddened to receive the news one of our long time owners John Shepley had passed away in Brisbane. John raced a few horses with us over the years including Makeadane and Japery and has a small interest in Secret Hell which races on Friday at Ballarat. Our thoughts are with his partner Jenny and his family and friends. John was a terrific person.

Patrick Payne On A Roll

​

Patrick Payne's results since 1 April when Michelle and him dissolved their training partnership have been exceptional. I'd like to make the point the decision to go their own ways was an amicable one with Michelle having many opportunities in the media and other areas that she wanted to pursue. She also wanted to have more time to spend with her father. Training horses is a very demanding occupation that doesn't leave much time to for other pursuits and we wish her every success going forward. I have been associated with Michelle since she was an 18 year old apprentice and we have had a lot of success together.

April

Patrick had three winners from 21 runners (14.3% winners to runners) through April as he started to build up his team. This small number of runners coincided with our results with April being the quietest month Prime Thoroughbreds has had in the past 20 years. We made the deliberate decision to back off our horses and wait for the tracks to soften up. This is now paying dividends.

May / June

Since 1 May he has trained 19 winners from 75 runners at 25%. His results for Prime Thoroughbreds during this period has been terrific with 4 winners from 10 starters at 40% with four of our last five runners winning.

In conclusion since 1 April Patrick has trained 22 winners from just 96 runners at a strike rate of 23% winners to runners with his stable continuing to gain momentum. Since 1 April Prime Thoroughbreds have had 4 winners from 13 runners with Patrick at 31%.

The average winning strike rate of the top 20 trainers on the Victorian trainer's premiership is 14.79%. No trainer has a strike rate above 20%.

I must say the comments from our owners who visited Patrick's Training Complex on Sunday and inspected their horses were that they had never seen horses look as well at this time of the year. They looked amazing.

Patrick was very protective of his team earlier in the year when we had a much drier than normal spell which saw the tracks firm up. He is certainly reaping the benefits of this patient approach.

The Devil In Her

The Devil in Her's win at Mornington was the 152nd win for horses I have syndicated with Patrick. 48 of the 56 I I have syndicated with him are winners. These 48 winners cost $3,712,500 and have returned $8,768,275 in prizemoney and $2,564,100 in sales receipts at the completion of their time with us.

I'm looking forward to the remainder of the season and into the new season which starts on 1 August. We have some talented horses to look forward to right across our team.

Upcoming Runners

​Here are our likely runners over the next week although obviosly subject to change.

Thursday 11 June - ​ I'llbethere Seymour for Patrick Payne, stayer resuming and will be improved by the run.

Friday 12 June - Secret Hell Ballarat for Tom Dabernig, layout of track should suit him.

Oh My Oh My Muswellbrook for Kris Lees, staying filly making her debut.

Saturday 13 June - Emmadella Sandown for Tom Dabernig with Jackson Radley claiming three kilo's The 1400m trip should be ideal third up. Loves the wet.

Strum Cha Cha Newcastle for Kris Lees. 2yo filly making debut.

Sunday 14 June - Smashing Nova Port Macquarie for Kris lees. Trials have been very good leading into his return to the track.

Wednesday 17 June - Bine and Cavalry Girl Caulfield for Tom Dabernig. Both girls are in great shape.

We also have quite a few horses heading to the jump outs and barrier trials this week. Also Momentslikethese and Miss Lyra are scheduled to gallop on the course proper in Hobart on Wednesday.

There is plenty going on which is good.

I hope you enjoy your week. The tributes to Neale Daniher at the MCG over the weekend were amazing. The AFL do it so well. He was a great Australian.

06/06/2026

I had a very successful Magic Millions National Sale. My team is complete for 2026. I will be in a position to forward out information next week. The weanlings and yearlings I purchased are allocated as follows:

National Weanling Sale

This has been a great sale for us since I started purchasing weanlings from it in 2018. I have purchased 12 with 11 winning including Emmadella, Miss Divine Em and Power Of The Brave. Power Of The Brave and Smashing Nova (only non winner) are barrier trialling today in Newcastle.

Lot 171 - Hawaii Five Oh filly out of the More Than Ready mare Thala. Tom Dabernig. I love buying well bred youngsters by First Season sires out of good families. This filly fits the bill on all fronts. She is a ripper from a great running family that includes the 2025 MRC Group 3 Vain Stakes winner Band Of Brothers and exciting young sire and Group 1 winner Captivant. 10% shares $7,500

Lot 280 - Brave Smash c**t out of Diala. Kris Lees. This is a very athletic c**t by a young sire going places out of an Artie Schiller mare. This c**t was reared at Emirates Park, one of our very best studs. Artie Schiller is a very good broodmare sire with Berzelius winning the BRC Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes on 30 May being out of one of his daughters. Power Of The Brave is by Brave Smash. 10% shares $7,500.

National Yearling Sale

Once again we have had good success from this sale from limited buys with The Cunning Fox being the best for us. He was a $34,000 purchase and has won 11 races and $721,440 in prizemoney. He is likely to resume in the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle on 12 July at Hamilton for Patrick Payne.

Lot 893 - Tiger Of Malay out of Take Aletter Maria. Patrick Payne. I loved this filly from the moment I saw her. James Mitchell was very keen on her. She was impossible to fault. She is a beautifully put together filly from a great running and current family with her dam a Pride Of Dubai mare half-sister to the good horse Big Sw***er which won at Flemington on Anzac Day. Also we had Wise Inlaw win at Flemington on 16 May from the family. He is from Sylvia's Mother, a half-sister to Take Aletter Maria. This is also the family of our Alabama Express filly Bay Minette. Tiger Of Malay is the sire of our very good filly Momentslikethese with him having a very impressive winner at Caulfield on Saturday named Obamulate. Tiger Of Malay is sitting in 5th position on the Australia First Season Sire's List. His progeny are improving as the season progresses. 10% shares $5,500 with all costs until registration included. She has been nominated for the rich Magic Millions Race Series. I have won nine Magic Millions feature races.

Pictured above.

Likely runners this week

Newcastle Saturday - Naughty Nurse for Kris Lees with Apprentice Shannon Llewellyn claiming 2kg. Naughty Nurse was very good first up and the 1400m looks ideal with the Soft track a bonus. A good barrier would be a big help.

Casterton Sunday - Mr Markle for Patrick Payne with Jacob Opperman riding. Looks a nice race for him.

Mornington Monday - The Devil In Her for Patrick Paynne with Bill Egan to ride. She was very good first up at Caulfield with this race looking a nice option for her second up after a long break.

We have several horses nominated for races with our trainers and their form gurus looking at the best options. Once decisions are made I will send out the relevant information.

Patrick Payne Stable Visit Sunday 7 June 26

Time 1030

Address 215 Leakes Road Plumpton Victoria 3335

All welcome

31/05/2026

PATRICK PAYNE ON FIRE

Patrick Payne's team has been steadily building momentum for a few weeks with his performance over the weekend seeing his four runners winning. Each of these four wins were good races.

On Friday night at Pakenham Promised Land won the Mile Final at the last night meeting at Pakenham for the season. He then had a double at Caulfield with Clevor Trever and Jimmy The Bear saluting before winning the Australian Steeple with Sing For Peace. Patricks past 11 runners have yielded 7 winners. Our unbeaten filly Himeno was one of these winners.

Patrick's work ethic is exceptional with and the efforts he goes to travelling his horses across the state to jump outs and barrier trials gives his horses every chance.

Congratulations to him and his team. They deserve every success they get.

Runners

Emmadella was very good on Saturday and is ready to step out to 1400m. She will probably head to Sandown on 13 June. Tom Dabernig has done a great job with her and the facilities available at Warrnambool suit the mare.

Since 1 April Tom has stepped out 8 runners for us for two wins, 3 seconds and a third placing. The wins were the SAJC Listed Matrice Stakes, Adelaide Magic Millions Three and Four Year Old Classic with two second placings at Caulfield and a third at Caulfield.

We have several runners this week starting with Signed by A Kiss at Kilmore today for Patrick Payne with Alana Kelly riding.

On Thursday Secret Hell is down to run at Geelong for Tom Dabernig.

On Saturday Flying Embers heads to Rosehill for John Thompson with Nash Rawiller retaining the ride. Himeno is likely to Morphettville for Patrick Payne.

On Monday Cavalry Girl heads to Mornington for Tom Dabernig.

The wet weather in NSW has caused havoc with 6 meetings either abandoned or postponed since Thursday. I will provide a further update on our likely runners in NSW once we get a clearer picture on the situation with the tracks.

28/05/2026

29/05/26

Great Day At Horsham Jumpouts 28/05/26

In Victoria jump outs are a very important tool for trainers to use to prepare their horses to race. Patrick Payne and Tom Dabernig use the jump outs very well.

We had four horses jump out at Horsham for Patrick Payne with Patrick and Bill Egan sharing the riding duties. The Cunning Fox, I'llbethere, Signed By A Kiss and Zukuro jumped out. It is always a good sign when Patrick rides the horses at the jump outs.

Each of the four horses did what Patrick wanted them to with positive reports on each. It may pay to keep an eye on them.

Patrick stepped out a horse yesterday at Moe for its first start for the stable over 1600m after a quiet jump out at Ararat. It bolted in after being backed from 14/1 into 7/1. At its two starts for its previous trainer it had been beaten 17 lengths. Her name is Rose Velvet. Keep an eye on her, she looked very good.

Bine In Great Return

Bine resumed at Caulfield on Wednesday and flew home from the tail of the field for a close up second for Tom Dabernig. She was given an excellent ride by Declan Bates.



She has always been a good mare but now she is settling in her races we have many more options for her.



She was a $20,000 Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale purchase and has now won $208,498 in prizemoney. Not many horses win back more than 10 times their purchase price.

17/05/2026

We have a busy week ahead with runners in NSW and Victoria as well as some important barrier trials and jump outs. I was pleased when I woke on Sunday morning to the sound of raindrops in the trees outside our bedroom window. The weather across Southern Australia has been amazing but with little rain over the past few months our racetracks have firmed up. The rain over the weekend is very welcome and will be of great benefit to our tracks.

We kick the week off this morning with Smashing Nova and Strum Cha Cha at the Gosford Barrier Trials for Kris Lees. This is the first trial for Strum Cha Cha who will most likely need another one or two before heading to the races. Smashing Nova is likely to need a second trial as well.

Oh My Oh My is set to make her debut at Newcastle tomorrow for Kris Lees with Chad Schofield to the ride the 3yo filly by Pierro from a stakes winning 1/2 sister to Tom Melbourne. She is bred to get over 2000m + and might find her opposition a bit slick over 1300m. She has drawn a good barrier which is always a bonus for first starters.

Wednesday is shaping as a big day with Cavalry Girl for Tom Dabernig, Himeno and The Devil In Her for Patrick Payne likely to run at Caulfield on The Heath track. These three talented girls are resuming off the back of three nice jump outs at Ararat recently. Craig Williams is set to ride Cavalry Girl, Alana Kelly on Himeno with a rider to be named for The Devil In Her. The Devil In Her won't start unless there is some give in the track.

On Saturday we are likely to have Emmadella at Sandown for Tom Dabernig with Flying Embers set to run at Randwick for John Thompson. Riders are still to be confirmed. Naughty Nurse is likely to resume at Newcastle on Saturday for Kris Lees.

In other news Patrick has been very pleased with The Cunning Fox's progress and he is about four weeks from returning to the races. He is a wonderful jumper and should be placed to advantage towards the end of the jumps season.

Shadhavar has another couple of weeks spelling before returning to Tom to be prepared for the Spring Carnival. She is a terrific mare and should continue to take her owners on a wonderful ride.

Power Of The Brave is in work with Kris Lees and coming along nicely. The Ramornie Handicap in Grafton in July could be a nice target for him. These three horses cost just $204,000 combined purchase price. They have won 23 races and $1,396,280 in prizemoney.

I will be in touch as the week progresses with all eyes on Doomben next Saturday with the Group 1 Doomben Cup the highlight.

Enjoy the week.

16/04/2026

PRIME NEWS - PLENTY HAPPENING

Tassie Stars Back In Work!!!

Momentslikethese and Miss Lyra are back in work with Stuart Gandy with the Alexandra Plate and Tasmanian Sires being Tasmania’s top 2 year old filly Momentslikethese targets. The daughter of Tiger Of Malay is her first season sire’s best performer in Australia with Tiger Of Malay being 3rd on the Australian First Season Sire’s List.

Miss Lyra is the best performed 3 year old in Tasmania by her sire Lucky Vega who is now 7th on the Australian Second Season Sire’s List.

It is great to be able to offer our owners who race in Tasmania the opportunity to race horses by such high profile sires.

Kris Lees on fire!!!

Kris Lees stable has been on fire with his great win in the Sydney Cup with Changingtheguard a cracker as well as him providing the quinella in the $1,000,000 Midway Championship.

We have plenty going on with Kris with our good horse Power Of The Brave back in work. As well as this we have Naughty Nurse not far off racing with Oh My Oh My and Smashing Nova going through their paces. He has two very nice 2yo fillies Strum Cha Cha and Zasuna also in the stable.

Kris has been our main NSW trainer since 2005 and trained the winners of over 200 races for us.

Emmadella to resume at Warrnambool!!!

Smart mare is set to resume at Warrnambool on Thursday 7 May 26 for Tom Dabernig. The mare has really settled in well at Warrnambool.

The Cunning Fox is back with Patrick Payne!!!

After suffering a slight injury in the Grand National Hurdle our outstanding jumper The Cunning Fox was spelled. He is now back in work at Plumpton with Patrick Payne and will be targetted at the end of season jumps races. He was unbeaten in the 2024/25 Jumps Season winning all five starts over the obstacles. The $34,000 Magic Millions National Yearling purchase has won 11 races and returned $721,440 in przemoney.

Shadhavar to the Group 1 Sangster Stakes!!!

Shadhavar has come through her great win in the Listed Matrice Stakes and is on track for the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on 25 April 2026.

Shadhavar’s trainer Tom Dabernig is having a great run with 13 winners from 44 runners since 1 March at an impressive 30% winning strike rate. To put this in perspective Victoria’s top stable is rinning at 13.8% winners to runners this season.

Since 1 March Tom has had four runners for Prime Thoroughbreds for two winners.



Power Of The Brave is his sire Brave Smash’s most winning horse!!!



Power Of The Brave was very good again running second with the poor barrier draw costing him the win. He is going very well for Kris Lees and now heads for a well earned break as his sire Brave Smash’s most winning horse with seven wins and $365,300 in prizemoney. Not a bad effort for a $80,000 weanling purchase.

27/03/2026

The best two countries in the world to be in at present are Australia and NZ with so many great sporting contests happening over the next few days.

The AFL is shaping as having a terrific season with strong clubs in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, SA and WA. The excitement building in Tasmania ahead of the Devils admission into the AFL in 2028 is amazing. A record crowd attended the first game for the Devils in the VFL in Hobart last Saturday. Great stuff.

We have a couple of great games in the Super Rugby Competition with the Hurricanes hosting the Reds being a highlight. A loss for The Waratahs against the Brumbies could spell the end of their season. After a good start they have have been disappointing. Go the Brumbies.

The NBL final series sees the second of five games played between the Adelaide 36's and the Sydney Kings. Sydney look too good.

We have the Sheffield Shield Final between Victoria and SA being played. I expect there to be criticism of the pitch. It looks a bit too green. and underdone The NZ Women's Team play South Africa on Sunday in Christchurch.

Finally, the NRL is underway with the Auckland Warriors looking in ominous form. The competition seems to be continuing on from last season being a bit lopsided with some sides not up to NRL First Grade standard. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out. The Storm looks like having another good year.

We have some great racing with Group and Listed races being contested at Trentham, Flemington, Rosehill, Morphettville and Ascot. In total we have 23 'Black Type' races to be run.

Our Runners

We will be represented by Shadhavar in the Listed Matrice Stakes for Tom Dabernig and Signed By A Kiss in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes for Team Payne, both run at Morphettville.

Signed By A Kiss by Yes Yes Yes is closely related to Rubisaki and Flattered, the best fillies or mares to run by their sires Rubick and Yes Yes Yes. Also Flattered is the only 'Black Type' performer out of a Sizzling mare with her dam one of our Adelaide Magic MIllions winners Zizzis.

Flying Embers runs in the Midway Qualifier at Wyong for John Thompson. If she runs first or second she qualifies for the $1,000,000 Midway Final at Randwick on 11 April.

Secret Hell heads to Ararat on Monday for Tom Dabernig with Declan Bates to ride.

Good luck to each of them.

Team Payne and Tom Dabernig firing!!!

Patrick and Michelle Payne and Tom Dabernig stables have really hit their straps with the Payne's having five winners in the past seven days and Tom eight winners from 24 runners this month. With some rain the tracks are softening up across Victoria which is a godsend after months of hot dry weather and flint hard tracks.

Seonee

Seonee is set to be sold at the Magic millions National Sale in late May. She is in foal to Hellbent. She is very well related and her sire Winning Rupert's best mare to race and most winning horse with 9 wins.

Runners Of Interest

Runners of interest are Cafe Au Lait at Flemington in race 2. She is a 1/2 sister to our 2yo filly Ground Force. Cafe Au Lait looks to have good ability and getting better as she gets out in distance.

Two of Shadhavar's 1/2 brothers run tomorrow with Golden Cloud well in the market in race 2 at Morphettville and What A Crack in race 7 at Trentham in NZ.

At Ascot, Wonderfully Made is closely related to our Daumier / Arizona Night filly and runs as firm favourite in the WA Oaks.

In the Matrice Stakes we see Thunder Shoc running. She is out of Casa De Lago which we raced. Interestingly, Casa De Lago was her sire Delago Deluxe's only 'Black Type' performer with Thunder Shoc the only 'Black Type' performer out of a Delago Deluxe mare.

Check out our yearlings at:

primethoroughbreds.com.au

Regards,

Joe O'Neill
0433762700