Payne scraps plan to partner Cox Plate hope Kaspersky at Newbury

Michelle Payne declared a desire to ride at a future Shergar Cup as she abandoned plans to partner Cox Plate aspirant Kaspersky in Newbury's Betfred Hungerford Stakes this Saturday.

Sickness prevented Payne from taking her place in the Shergar Cup line-up at Ascot last weekend, with her absence announced on the morning of the competition, two days after the history-making Melbourne Cup winner left a promotional event abruptly having reportedly sworn at an Ascot official.

"I'd love to have the opportunity to ride at the Shergar Cup but that's up to the organisers," said Payne on Monday.

"It's been a long way to come, but what happened, well that's life. You make the most of whatever else comes up. Last year I had the injury, then this year I was sick."

The illness has been cited as the reason Payne will not be in action at Newbury, where the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Kaspersky will attempt to go one place better than when second in Ascot's Summer Mile.

The Hungerford sponsors make him an 8-1 shot for the £150,000 Group 2 feature, with Lennox Stakes winner Breton Rock and Librisa Breeze the 7-1 joint-favourites.

"I've been talking to Jane and the owners," said Payne. "If Kaspersky were to win on Saturday he might have the opportunity to be invited to the Cox Plate and get his expenses paid.

"I've had time to think about whether to ride at Newbury. I've been sick and the first thing to do is to give the horse the best chance of winning the race, so we've decided to book Martin Harley, who has ridden him when I'm not available.

"I'm feeling a lot better but as a jockey you want to be in the fittest shape you can to be competing at any level. Having missed five days and been sick isn't the ideal preparation."

The Geoffrey Freer Stakes is the other highlight at Newbury on Saturday and Betfred have William Hill St Leger entry Defoe and Frontiersman heading their betting at 5-2.

Saturday's Newbury card