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By Ray Hickson

There’s a Group 1 ambition in the back of David Payne’s mind with emerging stayer Navajo Peak and he’ll be set for the spring if he runs up to the trainer’s hopes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer David Payne. (Pic: Steve Hart).

Payne concedes there are a few rungs still to climb but a win in the Listed $160,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) would encourage him to give the four-year-old his chance to force his way into The Metropolitan, a race the trainer won two years ago with Montefilia.

Navajo Peak doesn’t have the same sort of CV as his former stablemate but Payne said he’s a horse that has the best still ahead of him.

“If he steps up I’d like to look at the Metropolitan and races like that,’’ he said.

“He’ll have to go close if we are thinking of races like that but he’ll be competitive and tries very hard.

“I told the owner when I first got him he’s going to win a decent race and he’s still a baby, he keeps improving.

“I think he will get further, I think he will end up around a mile and a half. We want to put him out after this race and bring him back for the carnival.”

The gelding has been under Payne’s care for just under a year, having formerly been trained by Allan Denham, and he’s progressed from winning a Class 1 in his first start for the stable to his second in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) two weeks ago.

That’s a race Payne is adamant was one that got away from Navajo Peak.

He was travelling midfield coming to the turn and was shuffled out to near last, had to work back into the clear to make his run down the outside but the winner Esti Feny had already stolen a march by that stage.

“He keeps stepping up, he should have won the Cup at Gosford the other day. He was very unlucky,’’ he said.

“We’ve won five with him, he’s been a bit unlucky in some races but that’s racing.

“Barrier one is perfect for him, he’s an on pace horse who will be up in the first couple of pairs.”

Reece Jones rides Navajo Peak, $5.50 with TAB on Wednesday, on Saturday.

Payne is hoping Sweet Mercy’s luck can change when she tackles the Midway Handicap (1400m).

The filly was disqualified after she finished third in the Midway at Hawkesbury last month, due to Zac Lloyd unfortunately weighing in light, and Payne said she can be forgiven for her unplaced effort at Kensington on May 10.

He also has Tympanist resuming in the race but said he’ll likely need the run while Sweet Mercy appears to have the right conditions to run well.

Navajo Peak runs second in the Gosford Cup on May 6

“She was ridden upside down the other day, she was up front and she doesn’t run like that,’’ he said.

“She’s better with a smother, she finishes off, and it’s an ideal trip for her at 1400m.”

Bazooka will need a few scratchings to make his return in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) but Payne concedes his record of six unplaced runs first-up tells the story of what to expect.

“He’s going to need a run but he will still be competitive, you know Bazooka always tries his best,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting