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By Ray Hickson

Trainer David Payne is adamant Australian Derby aspirant French Emperor is a better horse for having been thrown in the deep end in the spring.

The bar is going to be raised on the three-year-old again shortly but after a soft first-up win at the provincials, Payne is using Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1600m) as a stepping stone to the autumn classics.

The gelding was $3 favourite with TAB on Thursday for his Midway assignment and he’s on the $26 line in the Group 1 Australian Derby on April 2.

“He’s bred to be a Derby hose, there’s a lot of upside to him,’’ Payne said.

“We will see as he goes along because he will go towards the Rosehill Guineas and then we decide.

“If you’re looking for a Derby he should be competitive for sure, if he can’t be competitive in a race like this he’s not going to be a classic horse.”

French Emperor was placed behind Profondo on debut back in September before winning a 1600m maiden at Goulburn. He started $6 in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes, beating one home with excuses, before his seventh in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.

French Emperor wins at Kembla Grange on January 22

Payne elected to send him to Kembla Grange for a first-up win and he delivered scoring by two lengths in a Class 1 over 1400m two weeks ago and not showing any signs of wanting to run around as he did in his first campaign.

“We thought he would win because he was racing in much better company than what he met so he was always going to take a bit of beating,’’ he said.

“He’s much better than he was, he still lays out a little but not as bad as he used to.

“He could only come on, it was his first run back so he will only improve.”

The expat-South African trainer won the Victoria Derby in 2017 with Ace High, who was narrowly denied a rare double with a close second in the Australian Derby.

He said French Emperor will need some luck from a tricky barrier but over the Randwick mile if he can find cover he should finish off.

“I wish he was drawn a bit better but he’ll put him where he’s comfortable and bring him with a run,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Payne said stable star Montefilia will have another trial before kicking off in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on February 26.

The four-year-old, winner of the Group 1 Metropolitan and fourth in the Caulfield Cup in the spring, ran sixth behind Riodini in her first trial earlier this week.

When nominations are released for The Star Championships next week her name will appear in a number of Group 1s and Payne is happy to aim high.

“I’m very pleased with her, she’s well,’’ he said.

“I’ve put her in everything and we’ll decide. I think she’s going to be a better mare this prep too.”

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