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By Ray Hickson

When you only have a small stable just to find one good enough to compete in the Country Championships is a feat in itself and Inverell trainer Todd Payne can’t wait to get Liszomania to Tamworth on Sunday.

Trainer Todd Payne (Pic: Grant Guy)

The horse has experience in the Country Championships, when trained by Aiden St Vincent he was favourite for the Northern Rivers Championships in 2023 but was declared a non-runner then didn’t have any luck in the Wild Card.

Two years on and he’ll line up in the $150,000 Evergreen Turf Hunter & North West Country Championships (1400m) as Payne’s first foray into the rich country series.

“I’m excited to be honest, it’s unbelievable actually,’’ he said.

“For us, we’ve always had that 10 in work and to have one good enough to go to a Country Championships it’s great.

“I think he’s up to it, it’s a very tough heat there’s no doubt about that and I think we’re in it up to our eyeballs.”

Lisztomania was also Payne’s first TAB Highway winner when he broke through first-up under 59.5kg at Randwick a month ago, downing subsequent Highway winner Exit Fee, and as it was only his third win he’ll drop 3.5kg.

The six-year-old does have the outside barrier to contend with but that doesn’t concern Payne one bit, in fact he says it’s probably an advantage given his racing pattern.

Payne said he clearly has the right form around him, back in July he gave Clear Thinking 3.5kg and was beaten half a length by the mare – who he won’t have to contend with at Tamworth with co-trainer Paul Messara confirming she’ll run in Sydney instead.

“It doesn’t worry me where he drew. I couldn’t be happier with the way everything is ticking into place and a bit of rain on Sunday would be fantastic,’’ Payne said.

“He’s full of himself there’s no doubt about that, he’s ready to go. Everything that we’ve planned has fallen into place so it’s been great.

“He’s screaming for the 1400m, I’d love to see him run top two because if you look at his Randwick stats he hasn’t missed a top three there.

“If we can get through Tamworth we’d be pretty confident. He has form around some pretty handy horses, we’re probably meeting them a bit better at the weights.

“There’s going to be a bit of speed on and he’ll be out the back door and finding the line like he always does, we won’t be riding him any different.”

Stablemate Takemine didn’t make the cut for the Country Championships so will line up in the Tamworth City Toyota Plate (1200m).

Her last win was on Boxing Day on her home track but Payne said if she brings the sort of effort that took her to an eye-catching second behind the promising Capital Mac at Quirindi a couple of weeks ago she can be in the finish.

Lisztomania wins at Randwick on February 8

“She’s a nice horse, she’s the same sort of pattern as Lisztomania and will get back and find the line well,’’ he said.

“The horse that beat her at Quirindi goes quite good. They ran home in a bit over 33 and I don’t think you could even see her at the 600m in the video.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Tamworth