Trainer David Payne has confirmed that talented mare Lilliburlero will take her place in the 2014 Starlight Stakes that will be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Lilliburlero will be the sole David Payne-trained representative in the 2014 Starlight Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Lilliburlero was given a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock following her fourth place finish in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on May 17 before she returned to racing with an unlucky third behind Vain Queen and Bounding in the Group 3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 6.
The Redoute’s Choice mare has recorded only four wins from her 18 career starts to date, but she was a consistent performer during her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign and took out the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 before performing well in the Group 3 Roy Higgins Tribute (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 11 and Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5.
Payne told AAP that he is happy with the condition of Lilliburlero heading into the Starlight Stakes and he confirmed that Glyn Schofield would take the ride on the five-year-old.
The veteran trainer elected to also include Goldstone in the 2014 Starlight Stakes nominations, but he revealed that the nominations for the race had come up too strong for the Shamardal gelding.
Goldstone was also included in the nominations for the Benchmark 90 Handicap (1200m) that is set to take place at Moonee Valley on Saturday as well as the Carlton Mid Benchmark 85 Handicap (1200m) at Doomben and Payne said that he would likely include the seven-year-old in the acceptances for both races.
The seven-year-old made his racing debut under the care of Bart Cummings and was placed at Group level in the 2010 edition of the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), but he has had his career disrupted by injury and he joined the Payne stable at the end of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Goldstone made his debut for his new trainer with a fifth place finish behind Our Boy Malachi in the Turner Freeman Lawyers Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 1 before he returned to a semblance of his best form with a fast-finishing second behind Starlight Stakes hopeful Dothraki in the Whyte & Gilmour Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 15.
The Payne team at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday will be rounded out by debutant Trust My Luck, a colt that Payne hopes can progress towards the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
