State Of America has turned the corner in style, becoming a banner performer for David Payne’s stable, though the path to consistency wasn’t always easy.

Now five, the gelding was once a difficult type who took time to mature, both mentally and physically.

“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.”

With just under $500,000 in prize money and wins in four of his last seven starts, the patience shown is clearly paying dividends.

His latest success came over 1600m at Hawkesbury, and he will step up to 1800m for Saturday’s Tom Bingle Handicap at Randwick.

“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.”

He concluded his last prep with a fifth in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m), and Payne is planning another campaign at black-type level.

The Scone Cup (1600m) is on the radar, although travel to Queensland is unlikely.

“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 also runs Trafalgar Square over 1200m in the Neville Waters Handicap and expects her to be much sharper 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.