Chris and Corey Munce are confident Payline can make his presence felt in Friday night’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, with the father-and-son training team encouraged by the gelding’s first Melbourne outing.

Payline produced a fast-finishing fifth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 6, closing strongly from the back in a high-pressure affair. That race featured Baraqiel and Alabama Lass, who both line up again, while rivals Skybird, Rothfire and Sir Sway also return. New additions to the line-up include Magic Time, Lady Shenandoah, Charm Stone and Ameena.

“It was an outstanding effort in a high-pressure race at this track over that distance,” Corey Munce said.

“Ideally you need to be handier than what his normal racing pattern is, but he overcame that obstacle and to be beaten a length-and-a-half, first-up in a Group 1, we were really happy.”

Payline has since returned to The Valley for another gallop on Monday, with Munce confident the 1200m of the Manikato and a smaller field will work to his advantage.

The stable has resisted using blinkers despite trialling him in the gear.

“We worked him in blinkers last week and we elected to leave them off in his work on Monday just to see whether he had taken that step,” Munce said.

“Justin Huxtable, who rode him in the Moir, was on him, and he was happy.

“There was give in the track and while he wasn’t out to break any records, it was more about getting him to the track and getting the adrenaline going.

“He has worn blinkers in a race before and we put them on him sometimes in his work as he can be quite casual.

“He can work the house down, but as he’s getting a bit older, he’s starting to work it all out and he doesn’t have to overdo it in the morning.

“I think if we have some luck in running and his momentum is not stopped, he’ll run well.”

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