Aaron Payne thriving on being back around gallopers

By Jordan Gerrans

It is going to only be a short return back to the racing industry but for North Queensland’s Aaron Payne it was a profound experience.

The former NRL player has dabbled in training gallopers throughout his life, focusing in on the equine athletes when his rugby league commitments were not quite as busy.

After five years coaching the Townsville Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup competition, Payne finished in the role in late July of this year.

He immediately got back into the racing game, working for the Holt stable at Cluden Park as well as preparing one galloper of his own.

Hero Of The Pack is the mare Payne has been conditioning, with the five-year-old having two starts for her new trainer in September.

The maiden mare will have her third and last start for Payne on Thursday at Home Hill as she chases her first career victory.

Payne is likely to soon take up a new full-time role within the rugby league industry, which will slow his hands-on approach to racing for the foreseeable future.

While it was only a short spell back in the sport, the 219 game NRL player certainly thrived on being back around thoroughbreds.

“It is my passion and something I enjoyed so I always envisioned getting back into,” Payne said.

“When footy was not as busy or it ended, then it was an opportunity to step back into the industry in another of my passions, alongside rugby league and coaching, which is another of my passions.

“I wanted to allow myself the ability to step back into the industry and I am glad I did.”

Payne prepared 25 winners between 2012 and 2019 and kept his training licence while he was coaching the Blackhawks – who are a feeder team for the NRL Cowboys – for five seasons.

He will keep his training licence going forward so he has the chance to come back into the code whenever he gets the chance.

As well as preparing his one small team, Payne has been working for the husband-and-wife training team of Georgie and Aidan Holt in the morning at Cluden Park.

“It has been great to have Aaron around the stable and he has been a real asset over the last few months,” Georgie said.

The former NRL hooker concurs.

“I am really, really enjoying helping Aidan and Georgie in the mornings,” Payne said.

“I am learning stuff off them and more importantly, just enjoying doing something I enjoy instead of doing a job I do not enjoy.

“They are great people the Holts, they are fantastic.

“They create a really good environment and they are great people to work for, I really enjoy going to work.”

Hero Of The Pack’s run at Bowen last month was Payne’s first starter in a race since June of 2020.

He was already pre-training the mare before he finished up with the Blackhawks.

She has had two runs in North Queensland and has improved with both her efforts.

Payne has booked the Holts' apprentice Tessa Townsend for her 1460 metre assignment at Home Hill on Thursday.

Payne rides Hero Of The Pack in all her work around his 1000 metre track at his property as well as taking her to the beach.

“She definitely is bred to stay and she also gives you the indication that she relaxes so nicely in her work that she will get a trip,” Payne said.

“Her first two starts were more or less barrier trials for her.

“When they sprinted she was left a tad flat-footed and I was a tad disappointed in her first run, but in saying that – we did draw the outside gate.

“We saw some improvement in Townsville when we stepped her up to 1200 metres and now she is up to more of a suitable trip, there should be more improvement. I hope to see a better run on Thursday.”

With Payne’s imminent new role back in rugby league, he is likely to sell Hero Of The Pack or find another trainer to take her on.