Consistent middle-distance performer State Of America has become a wonderful advertisement for the David Payne stable but he hasn’t always been a darling of the team.
As a younger horse, the five-year-old was cantankerous and it has taken time and patience for him to focus his energy on racing.
“He used to be a really difficult horse,” Payne said.
“If you look at his first run, Willie Pike rode him and he nearly ran off the track. He has come a long way and the penny has dropped. He has become sensible.”
Connections are being rewarded for their persistence with State Of America having banked just shy of $500,000 in stakes.
He is also the winner of four of his past seven starts, including his most recent over a mile at Hawksbury.
He steps back up to 1800m in the Tom Bingle Handicap at Randwick on Saturday and handles rain-affected conditions.
“He has come back well and he’s looking a picture. He will be competitive again,” Payne said.
“As long as it’s not a heavy 10 or something, it shouldn’t worry him. He enjoys that little bit of give in the track and he tends to hold form once he finds it too.”
State Of America wound up his previous campaign with a fifth in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) in December and Payne confirmed he would again be given black-type opportunities this preparation.
The Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 16 is among the options, although Payne has all but ruled out an interstate tilt.
“I will look at all those races. You can’t hide him now, you’ve got to go that way,” he said.
“We will look at the Scone Cup. He probably wouldn’t go to Brisbane, I don’t know if he’d be a traveller. He is a bit of a worrier but we will see how he shapes up.”
Payne will also start Trafalgar Square in the Neville Waters Handicap (1200m) and expected her to strip fitter second-up.
“She has run in some good company and now that she is down in grade with a light weight, it gives her a bit of a chance,” Payne said.
