The Patrick Payne-trained Wings Of Song continued her domination of the 3-year-old fillies races in Tasmania with a hard-fought win in the Listed Viso TAS Insurance Brokers Strutt Stakes (2100m) at Hobart on Sunday.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, the daughter of Mendelssohn (USA settled one out, and one back as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Snitzel filly Very Sewreel took the field through honest fractions.
After getting the better of Very Sewreel, Wings Of Song held the challenge of the fast-finishing Fiorente filly Girls Girls Girls by a half-head, giving her a third runner-up finish in four starts. Very Sewreel was a length back in third.
It was Wings Of Song's fourth consecutive win. She parlayed her win over a mile at Benalla in October with victories in the Tasmanian Guineas and Thousand Guineas.
Bred at Twin Hills Stud by Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison and sporting the famous red silks with white cap, Wings Of Song advances her record to five wins, two seconds, and a third from ten starts with earnings of $240,830.
"The last 100m was a bit scary, but she got the job done," Michelle Payne said.
"Jye rode her beautifully, and he is forming a great partnership with Patrick.
"I know Patrick will be thrilled to get another win for Sandy Tait in the colours that were great for him in his riding career."
Wings Of Song is a half-sister to Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Vase winner and near $1 million earner Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder) and stakes-placed Jenny Jerome (Churchill).
They are among the five winners from as many to race for the Strategic mare Tortoni, a half-sister to the 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour), who banked $6.2 million when trained by the late Guy Walter.
Patrick Payne rode Tie The Knot to Group 1 victories in the Ranvet Stakes, Mercedes Stakes, and Chipping Norton Stakes.
Also, a half-sister to the Listed winners Hood (Shamardal) and Dream Ballad (Singspiel), Tortoni is the final foal of the Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine Whisked (Whiskey Road).
Tortoni has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Too Darn Hot (GB). After foaling a St Mark's Basilica (FR) filly in September, Tortoni was covered by Churchill (IRE).
Wings Of Song is the seventh stakes-winner worldwide for Mendelssohn (USA). The Group 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-winning son of Scat Daddy left just 38 live foals in his lone Australian season.
