The Rosehill Guineas will be the next target for Masquerader after the colt was ruled out of Saturday’s Group One Randwick Guineas due to a bout of colic.
“He had to be treated and once you treat horses you can’t run them,” Payne said.
Despite missing the Group One 1600m feature for three-year-olds at Warwick Farm, Payne is still planning to press on to the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 26 and the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 16 with the Group-winning galloper.
“He’ll go for the Rosehill Guineas, all going well,” Payne said.
“It is not going to affect his fitness.”
Payne will still be represented by dual Group One placegetter Praecido in the Randwick Guineas in which Ilovethiscity is the $2.40 favourite.
Praecido dead-heated for third in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and finished second in the Victoria Derby (2400m) in the spring, and Payne believes he is heading the right way towards next month’s AJC Australian Derby (2400m).
The son of One Cool Cat found the 1200m of the Royal Sovereign Stakes too short first-up but then turned in an encouraging fifth to Ilovethiscity in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) second-up.
“It was a very good run last start, but Warwick Farm is not his course,” Payne said.
“It’s a little track and it is not going to suit him but he’s got to run. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
The Randwick Guineas meeting was moved from Randwick to Warwick Farm for this year to cater for a music festival at Randwick on the same day.
Payne has split up the stable’s three Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) representatives, with Gimcrack Stakes winner Defiant Dame and Al’s Magic Miss to take their places at Warwick Farm.
Florentina, however, will bypass the race and head to Canberra on Sunday for the $250,000 Black Opal Stakes (1200m).
Golden Slipper hopeful Defiant Dame was scheduled to kick-off her autumn campaign at Warwick Farm last Saturday but was scratched due to an elevated temperature.
“She’s fit enough to be competitive tomorrow,” Payne said.
The Rosehill trainer believes the Sweet Embrace Stakes around Warwick Farm suits Defiant Dame better than heading to Canberra for the Black Opal.
Defiant Dame is the $3.40 second favourite with TAB Sportsbet for the Sweet Embrace behind the unbeaten Pane In The Glass ($2.90) following the scratching of Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen who will run in the Black Opal.
Payne also has plenty of time for Al’s Magic Miss who won on debut on the Kensington track before finishing fourth to Satin Shoes in the Silver Slipper at her only other start.
She is at $41 in the Sweet Embrace.
“She’s a very nice filly and she’ll be competitive,” Payne said.
“She’s better than we think.”
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