Punters were on the mark with Praecido in the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill on Saturday despite his reputation as a non-winner.
The four-year-old was the $3.80 favourite to win his second race from 28 starts in the 2000m Listed race and fought off Jimmy Fortunes ($13) to score by a neck.
Trainer David Payne thought Glyn Schofield might have gone a little early on Praecido but the result was what mattered.
“I thought Glyn might have gone a bit early because he pulled to the front and he hasn’t been there for a long time so he might not have known what to do,” Payne said with a grin.
“People say he’s a non-winner but he’s earned more than half a million dollars from not winning.
“I’d like to own him. He cost $60,000 in New Zealand.
“This was his race today.”
Among Praecido’s six placings are a third in the 2010 Spring Champion Stakes and a second to Lion Tamer in the 2010 Victoria Derby.
Schofield has had a long association with the Payne stable and believes Praecido has been maligned in the past.
“He’s an honest horse,” he said.
“He always tries and gives his best and was in a grade where he could win.
“When you look at his record he’s been a really good horse.”
The Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 28 is among the possibilities for Praecido but last year’s winner Stand To Gain may be in some doubt.
Hugh Bowman felt his action wasn’t right during the Parramatta Cup and pulled him up in the straight and he walked over the line almost 50 lengths from the winner.
Praecido’s determined win was made even better by the conditions with the Rosehill track a heavy (9) after a week of rain and the prospect of more to come over the next month.