Centennial Park might not be favoured in betting to repeat his Expressway Stakes heroics on Saturday but that certainly doesn't faze trainer David Payne.The honest five-year-old upstaged his more fancied rivals Love Conquers All and Hot Danish in the Expressway (1200m) first-up, but three of the horses he beat home that day are favoured to turn the tables in the Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.Centennial Park is on the fifth line of TAB Sportsbet betting at $9.50, with Hot Danish fav
Centennial Park might not be favoured in betting to repeat his Expressway Stakes heroics on Saturday but that certainly doesn't faze trainer David Payne.
The honest five-year-old upstaged his more fancied rivals Love Conquers All and Hot Danish in the Expressway (1200m) first-up, but three of the horses he beat home that day are favoured to turn the tables in the Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Centennial Park is on the fifth line of TAB Sportsbet betting at $9.50, with Hot Danish favourite at $2.90 ahead of Love Conquers All ($4.60) while Danleigh, who was fourth in the Expressway, is at $8.50.
"I don't worry about other people's opinion," Payne said.
"I just worry about how my horses are doing."
The Rosehill trainer can't fault Centennial Park and expects another bold showing from the multiple stakeswinner.
"He's come through it (Expressway) well and will improve with that run," Payne said.
"I'm very happy with him.
"His exhibition gallop (with Hay List prior to his first-up run) was good and I guess he just confirmed that gallop when he won first-up."
Leading jockey Corey Brown was very impressed with Centennial Park's Expressway win, when he gave Hot Danish and Love Conquers All a start and picked them up to win by just under a length.
Brown retains the ride on Saturday.
"He'll be thereabouts again," Payne said.
While Centennial Park shoots for more Group success in the feature race on the program, stablemate Sea Lord faces D-day in a restricted event with a Group One assignment in Melbourne the carrot should he perform up to expectations.
Sea Lord, a three-year-old son of Street Cry, resumes from a five-week let-up in the Vaby's Mediterranean Grill Handicap (1500m).
"He's got to step up on Saturday if he wants to run in the (Australian) Guineas," Payne said.
"He'll have to be very competitive on Saturday otherwise it would be a waste of time (running in the Australian Guineas)."
Sea Lord has shown talent in his short career, placing third in the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) at just his second start last August.
The colt scored a first-up win on the Kensington track at Randwick on January 5 and then scraped home as $1.30 favourite in a 3YO Benchmark 75 (1500m) at Rosehill on January 15.
Sea Lord is currently $41 for the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5.
Another interesting runner from the Payne stable will be two-year-old first starter Florentina in the Australian Brewery Handicap (1200m).
Florentina, a Redoute's Choice half-sister to Group One winner Gathering, has had two trials this preparation including a close second to Aerobatics over 900m at Rosehill on Tuesday.