Transferred meeting should suit Payne’s duo

Todd Payne will be hoping tomorrow's transferred Woolgoolga Cup meeting from Coffs Harbour to Inverell boosts the chances of his runners Shamedy and Soobooco.

Unfortunately for the Coffs Harbour Racing Club, Racing NSW stewards deemed the surface unsuitable for racing after approximately 65mm of rainfall over the past seven days.

While alternative tracks within the Northern Rivers region were considered and inspected, they were also deemed unsuitable for racing.

Fortunately, Inverell has escaped much of the coastal rain and is currently rated a Soft 6, allowing the eight-race program to proceed on Friday.

Payne, who prepares the Inverell Racecourse alongside his father Col, will saddle up Shamedy in the Woolgoolga Cup (1400m).

Leading country jockey Ben Looker, who has ridden 89.5 winners during the 2025/26 season, takes the mount in an important booking given the pair's previous success together.

Looker partnered Shamedy to victory in the Guyra Cup at Armidale in November before the combination finished second in the Glen Innes Cup in January.

The five-year-old Better Than Ready gelding is a nine-time winner and resumes at Inverell.

First-up form won't be an issue, having recorded one win, one second and one third from five fresh runs, while he also handles rain-affected ground well, boasting three wins and three minor placings from 10 starts on soft tracks.

There have been three scratchings from the race and, after drawing barrier one in the field of six on his home track, Payne will be confident of a forward showing from the local galloper.

Later in the program, Payne will saddle up Soobooco in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1050m), with apprentice jockey Izzy Neale taking the ride.

The six-year-old Sooboog gelding is a three-time winner and, while victories have been hard to come by, he has been remarkably consistent throughout his career, recording an additional 10 minor placings from 40 starts.

Barrier seven awaits, and the rain-affected surface should suit, with Soobooco having recorded three wins and four placings from 21 starts on soft ground.

On Friday, the gates open at 11am, with the first race scheduled for 11.55am.

The club's bar and canteen will be operating throughout the day, while TAB facilities will also be available on course.

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