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By Ray Hickson

Trainer David Payne was more than happy to wait for Zac Lloyd to be available before giving in-form gelding State Of America the chance to extend his winning streak at Rosehill on Saturday.

The five-year-old has struck a purple patch under Lloyd, who has now completed his dazzling apprenticeship, this spring with a hat-trick of dashing wins as he’s charged through the grades.

Payne had planned on contesting The Beauford two weeks ago but said the Listed $200,000 ATC Cup (2000m) was a good back up and the chance to get in on the limit weight.

“Why not have a go, he’s been carrying 59.5kg and 58.5kg and now he’s got 53kg,’’ Payne said.

“He’s up in grade but he’s a progressive horse and we’ve got to test the water.

“I was going to run him at Newcastle then Zac got suspended and other things didn’t work out so I thought we’d just wait for this.”

State Of America, $12 with TAB on Wednesday, has clicked with Lloyd this campaign – the hoop had a couple of unsuccessful rides on the gelding a year ago – and there’s been a similarity about how he's been winning.

State Of America wins at Rosehill on November 2

That is, he’s been able to sustain a couple of long runs to win and still be strong at the finish.

Punter’s Intelligence data out of his Rosehill win on Golden Eagle Day showed he ran clearly the fastest last 600m of 33.99, including an 11.09 (400m-200m) and last 200m of 11.63 having started his run around the 800m mark.

Payne said time has been State Of America’s friend and Lloyd has made all the right moves in riding him.

“It’s just worked out that way, he’s been nice and settled and when he’s pressed the button he’s responded,’’ he said.

“You can feel if a horse is going well and Zac knows him.

“I think he’s just more mature, he’s racing more tractably. He was always going to take time, he was a lean baby and needed to carry condition and he’s just slowly matured.”

A fourth win on end may make Payne think twice about sending State Of America for a break but he’s excited about a lightly raced filly that’s just returned to his stable.

Shohisha has only raced twice, early in the spring, for an impressive debut win before Payne gave her a shot at the Group 2 Furious Stakes.

“She’s back in the yard, I think she’s one of my better horses,’’ he said.

“I thought if we kept going we would be chasing horses she wasn’t ready for yet. She was still a bit light but she’s come in and looks very good.”

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