Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained The Open primed to strike at Sandown
Consistent performer The Open has a perfect third-up record to uphold on Saturday at Sandown in the 1400m Benchmark 100.
The Patrick and Michelle Payne -trained five-year-old, a seven-time winner from 16 starts, placed fourth the past two outings at Cranbourne and Caulfield respectively.
The Open finished 2¼ lengths behind War Machine last start, a $3.60 favourite on Saturday in the Group 1 Stadbroke Handicap-qualifying Group 3 BRC Sprint at Doomben.
'He's a lovely horse,' Michelle Payne said of The Open.
'We'd love to have a stable of horses that honest, he's not a world beater but he's as consistent as you could hope for and lovely to work with.
'Hopefully gets his luck in running and he should put his best foot forward all going well.'
Payne's nephew, apprentice jockey Tom Prebble has the chance to bank a third win on The Open.
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Prebble has ridden The Open four times previously for two wins and a second.
The 22-year-old rode his first stakes winner last Saturday at Flemington.
'Absolutely thrilled for him,' Payne said.
'He's very hardworking, down to earth, a lovely kid and improving all the time.
'He's resilient. He's determined. Hopefully he can keep taking the next step, progress through his apprenticeship and into his senior career.'
Prebble has ridden 110 winners to date including a combined 21 for the Payne siblings, individually and in partnership.
'Anytime you win with family it makes it even more special,' Payne said.
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Payne praised Prebble's dedication to the craft and determination.
Despite a rich racing pedigree Prebble, son of champion jockey Brett Prebble and Maree Payne, only started riding horses seriously about five years' ago.
'He wanted to do it, I think that's half the battle when you've got someone very determined,' Payne said.
'Even though he didn't have the upbringing we had (riding from an early age) and the interest, he's a good little athlete, and he's from two of the most competitive people in the world, Maree and Brett.
'If he wasn't determined it was definitely going to be a shock, thrown to his parents that's for sure.'
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