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Inverell’s Todd Payne is confident he has inherited the superior TAB Highway form with Lisztomania ($10 on TAB) at Royal Randwick on Saturday where he has renewed a successful combination off a priming trial win.
The former Aiden St Vincent galloper has been readied for an extended time by Payne who also has stablemate Spirit of Pluto ($81), an emergency in the capacity $120,000 Class 3, 1200m.
Lisztomania has been ridden to win and place last preparation by regional ace, Welshman Ashley Morgan as they combine again with 59.5kg.
"He has a history of bad feet this gelding, that's why he's lightly raced but he's worked and trialled really well; we set him for a Highway weeks back but we scratched with a wide gate and heavy track," explained Payne.
"Ash knows him well, won and has been placed on him, that's why we've gone that way and the gelding's feet are as good as we can get them."
Resuming from a seven-month spell, Lisztomania has drawn barrier 11 but is certain to come in with an early withdrawal, typically more to come while Spirit of Pluto also nominated for Tamworth on Friday has 54kg less the claim for Amy McLucas.
"It was an ownership decision, Lisztomania coming to me, I know him well and I've got his half-sister Kalahari Heart - Mark Taylor owns them both.
"And there are no hard feelings between Aiden and I, he ran some big races for him, I had no involvement in the ownership call, maybe they just wanted a change."
Lisztomania was runner-up twice for St Vincent in Highways at headquarters and Rosehill Gardens and won a trial at Grafton in November before a lengthy spell and joined Payne.
"Last prep the day he ran second in a Randwick Highway he was unlucky a long neck to Bianco Vilano and it then won the southern qualifier for the Country Championships.
"As good as form as it gets for this I'd say and we've had him ready for a good while. I've got a smart farrier, who has just done so much to get him where he needed to be.
"He'll always have feet issues but so far we've been able to manage them well enough to get him back in work and to the races.
"Happy going in and while the stablemate is handy and in good form, he's not in the class of Lisztomania on his best form.
"Hopefully we'll see that on Saturday but like I say he's worked and trialled to run us a race."
In an open TAB Highway Nipotino and Tanglewood head the TAB market at $6.50 with headquarters a Soft 7.
