Maestro David Payne is a realist and recognises this might be his last chance to win the Melbourne Cup.
Payne is a youthful 74 and looking forward to many more years training at racing's highest level but he also knows how difficult it is just to get a horse into the Melbourne Cup field.
Payne has patiently and meticulously planned top mare Montefilia's preparation to have her primed for the $7.75 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.
"I could have gone to the Melbourne Cup with this mare last year but she was only a four-year-old then, she was a bit young," Payne said. "She had won The Metropolitan earlier in that spring and then ran very well in the Caulfield Cup but I told the owners the mare needs another 12 months to be strong enough to run the two miles.
"The owners were great, they left it completely to me, and Montefilia is at her physical peak now.
"Her form is very good; I can't get her any better for the Melbourne Cup.
"If we get some luck, she should run very well. I'm excited by it, I might not get another chance to have a Cup runner."
Payne, who has trained over 100 Group 1 winners during his celebrated career, has had only one previous Melbourne Cup runner and that was Ace High who ran closer to last than first behind Cross Counter in 2018.
This demonstrates what a difficult exercise it is to find a quality stayer but trainers also have to worry about their horse passing Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols just to take their place in the Cup field.
In the last few days, a number of stayers have been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup on veterinary advice including Caulfield Cup winner Durston.
Equine welfare is an important issue and the safety of horse and rider is paramount but Payne believes a trainer's opinion should be valued more in the vetting process.
Payne was particularly critical of the decision to scratch Caulfield Cup winner Durston from the Melbourne Cup.
"It was an absolute joke taking out Durston," Payne said. "I felt very sorry for Chris (Waller) and his owners. They have vetted Montefilia four times since we have been in Melbourne. I asked the vet why do they need to keep looking at her and they said to make sure she is sound.
"But then the vet said this mare is one of the most free-moving horses they inspected."
Payne said he is thankful that Montefilia is as "quiet as a lamb" and wasn't troubled by the veterinary examinations.
"Thank goodness nothing worries her because some horses can get upset," he added.
Montefilia goes into the Melbourne Cup after her fast-finishing fourth in Durston's Caulfield Cup.
Payne's mare looked one of the unlucky runners at Caulfield but the silver lining is she has escaped a penalty for the Melbourne Cup. This leaves Montefilia on 55.5kg – but only two mares have carried at least 55.5kg and won the Melbourne Cup.
Makybe Diva shouldered 55.5kg when she won her second Cup in 2004 then set the all-time weight-carrying record for a mare with 58kg when she completed her famous Cup three-peat in 2005.
Verry Elleegant made light of her 57kg impost to win the Melbourne Cup easily last year.
"I'm not too worried about the 55.5kg, Montefilia is a big, strong mare and it's not a big spread of weights this year," Payne said. - Racenet.com.au