Episode 218: David Payne (Part 1)

In segment 1 David talks about his many moments of doubt when he arrived in Sydney in 2002. He didn’t have a single horse on his books, and stabling was almost impossible to find. He talks of the tough early years as he struggled to re establish with average horses. David takes us back to childhood days in South Africa and recalls the moment he fell in love with thoroughbreds. The respected horseman shares memories of his apprenticeship to Herman Brown and the highlights of his riding career. He looks back with great affection on his win in the famous Durban July Hcp, the dream of most trainers and jockeys in South Africa. David talks of his heartbreak when increasing weight brought his riding career to a premature end.  He pays tribute to Norman Ferguson, a wealthy owner who gave him a flying start as a trainer. David speaks with great reverence of In Full Flight, the horse he regards as the best he’s ever put a bridle on. The trainer discusses the strength of the South African riding ranks, and pays tribute to an old time jockey he regards to this day, as the best he’s seen anywhere in the world. David remembers his first Sydney winner , and his first Australian Gr 1 winner. He talks of a horse most people have forgotten. The unsound Dante’s Paradiso won 5 from 10 before breaking down. He was tried later by another stable, but never won another race. David says he was Gr 1 material.