One person not concerned by Centennial Park's ability to run the 1600 metres of the Chipping Norton Stakes is the gelding's trainer David Payne.The winner of seven races from 1200 to 1400 metres, five-year-old Centennial Park's injury interrupted career has been frustrating for Payne who believes he is a Group One horse and now just has to prove it.His two runs this campaign have resulted in victory in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) and third in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).Payne has had to manage C

One person not concerned by Centennial Park's ability to run the 1600 metres of the Chipping Norton Stakes is the gelding's trainer David Payne.

The winner of seven races from 1200 to 1400 metres, five-year-old Centennial Park's injury interrupted career has been frustrating for Payne who believes he is a Group One horse and now just has to prove it.

His two runs this campaign have resulted in victory in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) and third in the Apollo Stakes (1400m).

Payne has had to manage Centennial Park carefully over the years and he is free of any leg problems going into Saturday's Group One event at Warwick Farm.

"He is beautiful, he has come through his last two runs without any problems," Payne said.

"He will go a mile easy, I have no doubt about that.

"The way he has been finishing his races off indicates that."

Centennial Park made up a lot of ground from back in the field in the Apollo which was dominated by the front runners with Melito beating Hot Danish.

Melito will contest the Chipping Norton with 2010 winner Theseo also scheduled to make his autumn debut in the first Group One race in Sydney this year.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is convinced Melito is having the right preparation to extend her winning record to 1600 metres after keeping her to sprints last autumn and winter.

She ran first-up in the Apollo (1400m) and like Centennial Park is on a course towards the $2 million Doncaster (1600m) at Randwick on April 16.

"Everything is terrific with her," Ryan said.

"She's jumping out of her skin."

Chris Waller will be two-handed in the Chipping Norton with last year's third placegetter Danleigh and Metal Bender.

Danleigh ran sixth in the Apollo with Metal Bender just behind him at his first start since suffering a bleeding attack in the Mackinnon Stakes last October.

Stablemate Rangirangdoo, who ran second in the 2010 Chipping Norton, will be missing but is due to trial this week ahead of his likely return in the Canterbury Stakes on March 19.

The Chipping Norton meeting is the first of two on consecutive Saturdays at the outer Sydney track with the Randwick Guineas meeting transferred as Randwick is prepared for its April carnival.