Hard-working Victorian harness racing stable foreman Ross Payne is enjoying a richly deserved purple patch of driving form.

Payne has been taking the reins alongside junior concession reinswoman Taylor Youl while their boss, Chris Svanosio, is campaigning stable stars Arcee Phoenix and Aldebaran Acrux at the Brisbane Inter Dominion series.

“We’ve been ticking along okay since Snooze (Svanosio) took off – but we did get spoilt a bit because the team was cut down to only 20. We probably do somewhere around 32 to 34 usually,” Payne said.

Payne, who has driven 431 winners in his career, landed an impressive Melton victory on June 28 aboard Gotfeelingsyouknow, with stablemate Remus Phoenix, driven by Youl, completing the quinella for the stable.  Payne then followed up with a winning double at Kilmore five days later for the Svanosio camp.

At Kilmore, Payne was at his best with The Italian Dream, settling three back in the moving line and finishing strongly to record an easy 11.8 metre win. He then won with Promise Dream, who raced without cover after beginning from barrier six, but dug deep in the straight to score narrowly.

Payne has seven wins for the season, but with upcoming engagements at Bendigo tomorrow (July 9), Melton on Friday (July 11) and again on Saturday night, his tally looks set to rise.

Payne hails from a well-known and respected harness racing family in New Zealand.

“Grant is a Hall of Famer back home, and trained with Mark Purdon for years, while my youngest brother Greg is well regarded as a master conditioner of young pacing stock,” he said.

“I also worked at Mark Purdon’s All Stars Stable – that was back in 2014, and I was his stable foreman.”

Payne himself won the NZ drivers’ premierships before moving to Australia in the late-1990s.  He trained outstanding trotter Blitzthemcalder to a string of juvenile Group-level victories, including the Victorian Trotters’ Derby before returning home in 2013.

He remained with Purdon for 14 months before returning to Victoria, initially assisting trainer Vince Vallelonga.

“I then went across the road to work for Brent Lilley where I stayed for two years,” Payne said.

“I’ve been with ‘Snooze’ for three-and-a-half years, and if you want an Inter Dominion tip, I think Chris can win with Arcee Phoenix, who recorded the fastest last half on Saturday night!”

Payne starts work each day at 4am, a routine he’s maintained throughout his career.

“Apart from myself and Taylor, Chris’ dad Peter is here, and another girl comes and gives a hand,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed the driving part. It’s my biggest love. When I lose the hunger for it, that will be time to give it up.”

With one Gr 1, two Gr 2s, three Gr 3 successes, along with four listed classics as a reinsman, Payne is clearly still enjoying the challenge.

He continues to have high hopes for Gotfeelingsyouknow, despite the gelding galloping across the line when finishing second at Melton last weekend.

“He’s a horse with a bright future – there’s just something not right with him in the last quarter of his races,” Payne said.

“If we can get him trotting a wee bit better over the final stages, he’s going to be anything.”