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By Ray Hickson

Trainer David Payne would like to plot a path through the Princess Series in the spring if promising filly Bangkok Hottie runs up to expectation at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer David Payne (Pic: Grant Guy).

Despite not having an official trial leading into the Midway Handicap (1100m), something the trainer says wasn’t necessary, Payne is admant the three-year-old will make her presence felt.

Just last weekend Payne produced another filly in Krasina in Midway grade and she ran a game second behind Attractiveness and with a Group 2 for her next start it’s an important starting point for Bangkok Hottie.

“If you’ve got a good filly you want her to be competitive in a race like that,’’ Payne said.

“If you think they’re going to race in Group races they should be competitive. It’s a kick off for her to go to the Silver Shadow and she looks a nice type going forward.”

The Silver Shadow (1200m), run at Randwick on August 22 heralds the start of the Princess Series which then takes in the Furious Stakes (1200m), Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and culminates with the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on Epsom Day.

Payne has won the Flight Stakes twice, with Unearthly back in 2003 and Montefilia in 2020.

Bangkok Hottie, $2.30 with TAB on Wednesday, won a maiden at her second start at Warwick Farm then backed it up with a dominant win on Anzac Day at Randwick.

“She’s come back very good, she’s a strong filly now,’’ Payne said.

“She’s not big, I’d say average, but she’s got a bit stronger for sure. We’re aiming at the Princess Series but she has to step up.”

Chad Schofield rides Bangkok Hottie for the first time on race day, he did ride her in a trial prior to her debut in the Kindergarten Stakes, and Payne isn’t too concerned about the wide barrier.

He said given the races coming up for the filly he’d like to see her be in a striking position without being bustled to get across.

“I don’t want to chase her forward because long term I want to step her up to 1400m and 1600m,’’ he said.

“We don’t want to start getting her into bad habits. I’d say hopefully we’ll be in the first four or five, somewhere around there."

There’s no big spring plans at this point for stablemate Persian Wonder but he’ll likely get his chance to return to Group company in the coming weeks.

Group 3 placed in the Baillieu back in the autumn, the gelding shrugged off his maiden status first-up at Canterbury and Payne likes the inside draw going into the Precise Air Handicap (1400m).

In his first-up win Persian Wonder sat on the speed and responded to pressure to win but Payne said that won’t be necessary this time.

“He’s a horse that likes to be left alone and is better ridden quiet,’’ he said.

“The other day Zac (Lloyd) had to use him up which he doesn’t really enjoy and I think he’ll be midfield in a race like that.

Bangkok Hottie wins at Randwick on April 25

“He has a task with 57kg because of that second in the Group 3 race but he’s well.”

Persian Wonder is a year younger full brother to the promising Hello Captain and Payne said a race like the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) on August 29 might be a suitable race if he’s to win again.

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