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By Ray Hickson

She’s been underhyped all spring and gone about her business with little fanfare but that doesn’t bother trainer David Payne as Bangkok Hottie attempts the wrap up the Princess Series with a Group 1 win at Randwick on Saturday.

The filly will be out to emulate Apocalyptic’s feat from last year of winning the Furious Stakes (1200m), Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 $750,000 Darley Flight Stakes (1600m).

Unlike Apocalyptic, Bangkok Hottie also contested the Silver Shadow where she chased home Pembrey.

“We always thought she would be a good miler and now the time has come to deliver,’’ Payne said.

“Every time she runs they all look for everything to beat her. It’ll be a good test.

“She’s got a good barrier so she doesn’t have to bounce and get over, she can do it easier.

David Payne with Kerrin McEvoy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“She’s very professional, she does everything right, and everything you want her to do she does.”

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

She’s sat outside the leader in her two recent wins, having drawn awkwardly, and while she has been comfortable in that position and held off the closers Payne said he’d prefer not to have to make the running with Bangkok Hottie.

“You don’t want to lead, it’s not necessary, and the slower they go the better,’’ he said.

“It’ll be a tactical race and I’ll leave it to Kerrin (McEvoy) and we’ll go from there, we’ll look for cover if possible.”

Bangkok Hottie, $3.20 with TAB on Friday, doesn’t actually turn three by birthdate until October 19 so Payne doesn’t want to ask any more of her this campaign.

“It’ll be her last run, it’ll be her fifth run this prep, it’s tempting to go to the Thousand Guineas and I said to the owner she’s young and you don’t want to overdo it,’’ he said.

“I think she will be better in the autumn, she’s a strong filly who has done everything we’ve asked her to do so I think she can only get better.”

Of the 10 Group 1s Payne has trained in Australia none of them have been for Bangkok Hottie’s owner John Thompson and that’s something he’d like to correct.

Obviously the filly presents as a real possibility and he said he’d like nothing more than to share a Group 1 with Thompson, who has been sending him horses since he arrived from South Africa in 2002.

“If it happens it would be wonderful. He’s been really good to me, really loyal, and always supported me,’’ he said.

Payne said no consideration was given to adding unbeaten filly Proxima Dea to the Flight Stakes when the field was looking small and he’ll stick to the plan of running in next week’s Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

David Payne on Agita and Serpico (race 1): “They are both well, I think Serpico is going to run well. He has a light weight and will love the step up, they are both in peak form so who knows.”

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