As a three year old Pay Master showed some harness racing potential but failed to reach any great heights at that age.
"When he started off he had a run of bad draws. He did run second in a weak field at the end of last season. When he came up this year he went no good. Then he got crook with a virus. He came back and had two workouts and won both of them. He then ran third at this last start," said trainer Alan Paisley.
That third behind Pick My Pockets and Navajo Art was an indication that he was heading towards recording his first win and that came yesterday at the Central Southland Raceway in the EH Ball ITM Mobile Pace.
Driver Rory McIIwrick eased the four year old back to the rear of the field as favourite Tour Director took up the running. Inside the last 400 metres Pay Master was travelling like a winner three back in the three wide line. McIIwrick hooked him out at the top of the straight and he stormed home to beat Tour Director by three quarters of a length.
Pay Master winning at Winton photo by Bruce Stewart
The Gotta Go Cullect gelding is owned by Paisley, his wife Gail and Jeff Crengle. He's out of Nuclear Princess, a four win Nuclear Canyon mare. Paisley had earlier trained another of Nuclear Princess's prodegy Princess Delight who won four races.
"We bought her (Nuclear Princess) in Christchurch at the mixed stock sale. She was an older mare and in foal to Extreme Three (Extreme Prince). She was also the mother of Princess Delight which was going good at the time.Then we bred him (Pay Master) and after that she wouldn't hold."
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing