Payne has two debut runners at Ashburton on Tuesday

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Dunsandel trainer Sam Payne will line up two contrasting first starters at Ashburton on Tuesday.

After impressing at the trials, Makani ($3.80FF) will start in Race 1, the 4 Blokes Syndicate Mobile Trot while stablemate Major Miss ($6FF) debuts in Race 5, the Betavet / B and T White Racing Stables Mobile Pace. Both will be driven Jonny Cox.

Payne bought Makani for $23,000 at the 2024 National Yearling Sales.

"I spotted him during the Southland tour looking at yearlings and I liked him even more at sale time so I put up my hand and bought him."

"We had planned to race him as a two-year-old but he got crook and we tipped him out."

"He's a really nice horse but maiden trotters you never know what's going to happen do you? But he's usually safe." 

He's three now  and has had four wins from five trials leading into his first race day start.

"I'll leave the driving up to Jonny but if he wants to go forward I'm sure they will, but if he flops out and takes a sit and comes off a helmet I'm not too worried."

While Makani is a "cruisy dude" fellow debutante Major Miss is "a bit of a funny one" and "can be a handful at times." 

The Art Major five-year-old has not shown up to the same extent at the trials but did win a three-horse workout at Rangiora in December.

"She's quite a speed horse and she probably needs to tuck away and then get one run at them."

"Her work has been real good," says Payne, "on her best if she gets a nice cosy trip she'd be a good top three show."

The 10-race card at Ashburton starts at 1.32pm. 

To see the Ashburton fields click here