A sensational reward for Todd Payne missed by inches when stable star Lisztomania was narrowly beaten in the $1 million Evergreen Turf Country Championship Final at Randwick last Saturday.

But the popular Inverell trainer is on target for a well-deserved consolation prize when Sensational Reward tackles the 1400m Mick Farrell Memorial Anipro Warialda Cup today.

Payne, who trains a small team at Inverell racecourse where he also doubles as track curator, will leg heavyweight hoop Scott Sweedman aboard Sensational Reward in the time-honoured bush feature.

Sensational Reward hasn’t raced since giving a ton of cheek out in front and holding down second in the Inverell Cup on New Year’s Day.

The gelding has since been freshened, and goes into the Warialda Cup off a short let-up.

“When we spelled him, he didn’t have that long off – maybe three-and-a-half weeks. He didn’t lose a lot,” Payne said.

“I know he’s going into the race first-up over 1400m, and that’s probably his maximum distance, but he’s done enough at home and didn’t have a real lot of time off – and 1400m at Warialda is a little bit easier than 1400m at Inverell.”

Trainer Todd Payne with Sensational Reward at Inverell on Friday (Image: Colin Payne).

Sensational Reward, a jump-and-run horse, looks the likely Warialda Cup leader.

“He’s got enough early speed to put himself in the right spot. That’s his pattern, and he’s the type of horse that should be suited by Warialda,” Payne said.

Payne anticipates Scott Sweedman having Sensational Reward in front when the field swings for home.

“Scott rides the horse every day. He knows the horse and he knows him well,” Payne said.

“Scott and my other trackwork rider, Ben Ross, do a terrific job for me – Ben and Scott, and my dad, Col, are the main engines behind the team.

“My partner, Kyia, and daughter, Rylie, are always at the stables helping the team as well. I’d be lost without them,” he said.

Meanwhile, it’s taken a week for Payne to come down from the highs of last week’s Country Championships Final – well, almost.

Lisztomania was hailed the winner a few yards from home but was claimed on the line by Know Thyself and Aaron Bullock.

“It was a great experience, win, lose or draw,” Payne said.

“It was great to be down there and be competitive in that sort of race. He’s that sort of horse. It doesn’t matter what type race we start him in, he just tries so hard.”

Lisztomania is now a likely starter in the $200,000 Tamworth Cup on April 24 before returning from a spell for a crack at the $2 million Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 18.

“He’ll have one or two more runs and go the paddock and come back for the Kosciuszko – that’s our aim; that’s my next grand-final day,” Payne said.

“He’s in that sort of race up to his eyeballs because he loves Randwick, and he’ll love 1200m fresh.

“We might aim at the Tamworth Cup next start or a 1400m BM-78 at Randwick two days later.”

Warialda Jockey Club officials are breathing a sigh of relief after much-needed rain drenched the racetrack in recent weeks.

The club has held the annual race meeting only once in the last five years when Michelle Fleming’s Manabar beat Red Zephyr and Turn Table in the cup in 2022.

Saturday’s feature will start a full field, including Josh Oliver’s last-start winner Mocial Chief, topweight with 66kg, and Wayne Oakenfull’s 2023 Inverell Cup winner, Zaidin.

The six-race card also features the 1000m Darren Jones Memorial Sprint, named in honour of the popular jockey killed in a race fall at the Warialda Cup meeting in 2017.

This year’s edition, sponsored by North West Petroleum and Warialda Family Practice, drew a full field, including likely favourite Powerstone from the Gavin Groth yard at Gunnedah.

Words: Bill Poulos

Image: Colin Payne