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By Ray Hickson

She’s played the role of giant killer before but Montefilia is going to need a career best, according to trainer David Payne, to win Saturday’s Group 1 $5m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick.

Trainer David Payne. (Pic: Steve Hart).

The four-time Group 1 winner has chased home both Queen Elizabeth big guns Anamoe and Dubai Honour this preparation and was narrowly denied a fifth major with a close, and arguably unlucky, second in the Tancred Stakes (2400m) two weeks ago.

Payne said in Montefilia’s favour is his view that as an autumn five-year-old he’s never had her in better condition or form plus three of her four Group 1 wins have come at Randwick.

“The last three runs have all been top runs, she’s hasn’t won those Group 1s but those seconds are good for her CV,’’ Payne said.

“She’s very well, she’s at the top of the game now I think but we’ve got to find two lengths.

“We just have to wait and see if she is good enough to turn the tables on Anamoe and Dubai Honour but there’s others in the race as well. The Japanese horse (Unicorn Lion) is the unknown.

“You’ve got to be realistic, they are going to be hard to beat but this prep it’s the best I’ve had her.”

The presence of the Japanese horse is expected to inject genuine tempo into the Queen Elizabeth, Montefilia was a $17 chance with TAB on Wednesday, and it’s a case of bring it on as far as Payne is concerned.

He said the way last month's Ranvet was run didn't suit his mare so she was brave running into second behind Dubai Honour.

“The faster the better really. In a race like this you want a good pace to let the best horse win,’’ he said.

“If it is a sit and sprint it tells you nothing.”

Montefilia sailed past Verry Elleegant to win the Ranvet Stakes last year so she does have the kind of performance required to win a Queen Elizabeth within her powers.

Unfortunately, the Queen Elizabeth last year was run in very heavy conditions and Payne said his mare was never comfortable that day.

“Last year it was a heavy 20 not a 10, they were all struggling so you just put a line through that run,’’ he said.

Dylan Gibbons has been on board Montefilia all preparation, with Jason Collett out injured, and Payne said he’s been impressed with how the apprentice has handled the occasion of riding in some big Group 1 races.

“Dylan has ridden a few horses for me and has done nothing wrong,’’ Payne said.

“He has a good head on his shoulders and he’s done exactly what I wanted him to do.

“If you chop and change it does the horse no good. She’s an easy horse to ride, she does everything for you.”

Montefilia runs second in the Tancred Stakes

There’s a chance the Queen Elizabeth could be Montefilia’s final race start as she is entered for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale next month.

Payne has been campaigning for her to stay in training for another season, adamant with just 26 starts under her belt she still has plenty to give on the track.

“If you look at her form and the number of runs she’s had there’s no miles on the clock really and she’ll only be a six-year-old,’’ he said.

“She’s only been running three or four times each prep.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Star Championships at Randwick