Payroll wins 2017 Eclipse Stakes Group 3 $150,000 at Sandown-Hillside (VIC), 1800m.
Payroll followed recent promising efforts at her three prior runs since resuming to take out this Group Three race, her fourth win (with eight placings) in 22 starts to date. She settled in seventh place, wide with cover, behind a moderate tempo. She moved up well (deep), as the tempo increased rounding the home turn, went to second at the 200m and kept finishing well to grab a narrow but good victory on the post.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Kidmenever raced in seventh place on the rails. Kerrin McEvoy got him along the inner on straightening and he looked the winner when he took the lead at the 200m, only to be caught at the post for a close second in a promising effort at his second Australian start.
Jacquinot Bay went to the front, set a reasonable tempo, got a break at the 400m and then battled on quite well to hold third after being overtaken at the 200m.
The favourite Raw Impulse raced in fourth place on the rails, was under pressure at the 300m and then kept battling on for (4.2 lengths) fourth after seeming to have had every chance.
