Shamedy wins again as Todd Payne claims another Country Cup
The ever-consistent Shamedy landed a popular win for his on-course ownership group at Armidale on Sunday when prevailing in the Guyra Cup (1400m).
Prepared by Inverell trainer Todd Payne, Ben Looker was in the saddle, and the veteran jockey gave the five-year-old Better Than Ready gelding a gun ride when taking out the $35,000 feature.
Ridden a tad worse than midfield and on the rails, Looker saved ground on the inside with Shamedy ($6.50) before the pair powered to victory, defeating the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Rematch (Aaron Bullock, $2.80) by a half-head, while in third and a length back from the winner was the Brett and Georgie Cavanough-trained Rhythm Is A Dancer (Braith Nock, $4.80).
“It was a terrific ride,” Payne said.
“They snuck up the fence; it was fantastic.”
Backing up at Armidale following a fourth-place finish in the Coonabarabran Cup (1600m) late last month, Payne said Shamedy was better suited to seven furlongs.
“I thought he was always a little bit suspect at a mile, but he sort of had to go there (Coonabarabran) as there wasn’t anything in the program for him, so back to 1400m today,” Payne said.
“I don’t know what we do after here, but we’ll target an Inverell cup with him for sure.”
Shamedy has been a fantastic earner for connections, starting 34 times for nine wins and ten minor placings, earning over $325,000 in prizemoney.
Since being trained by Payne, the Inverell galloper has also won the 2025 Deepwater and Bundara Cups, while going agonisingly close in the 2025 Walcha Cup.
“He’s been a lovely little horse,” Payne said.
“He was a good little buy for the Luke Burger Syndicate; it’s terrific.
“There’s a fair few owners, and I think there are 130 people in him, and there are a lot of them here, I think.”
Payne teamed up with Braith Nock a race later at Armidale, making it a race-to-race double as Desert Cougar ($4.60) flashed strongly down the outside of the track to win by a nose in the 1100m Benchmark 58 Handicap.