Trainer Patrick Payne is under no illusion about the task confronting South Australian Oaks winner Danaupair Starlet in the Group Three Doomben Roses on Saturday."She's only a second-tier filly but she's very honest," Payne said."She puts herself in her races and is very good on wet ground but I've got a question mark about her this Saturday."I'd like to see some rain for her to do her best but she's okay on top of the ground."Payne has been training for close to three years following a hugely s

Trainer Patrick Payne is under no illusion about the task confronting South Australian Oaks winner Danaupair Starlet in the Group Three Doomben Roses on Saturday.

"She's only a second-tier filly but she's very honest," Payne said.

"She puts herself in her races and is very good on wet ground but I've got a question mark about her this Saturday.

"I'd like to see some rain for her to do her best but she's okay on top of the ground."

Payne has been training for close to three years following a hugely successful career as a jockey and is looking for his first Group One success with Danaupair Starlet in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 5.

The daughter of Delago Brom hasn't started since winning the Group Three South Australian Oaks (2400m) at Morphettville on April 10.

"It's been a long time between runs for her and she'll go a lot better by the time the Queensland Oaks comes around," Payne said.

Weight problems ended Payne's brilliant riding career which yielded 18 Group One victories including the Cox Plate on Northerly in 2002.

Payne also had a brief stint as a jumps rider just prior to taking out a trainer's licence.

"I gave away the jumps because I liked the idea of getting up every morning," Payne said.

Since breaking into the training ranks, Payne has shown the same professionalism he displayed as a jockey.

His emergence from his training base at Plumpton in Melbourne has taken giant strides since Laura's Charm gave him his first feature success in the Group Two Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley in 2008.

Later that year he came north with Kerdem who won the Queensland Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm and since has trained the winners of the Listed Mornington Cup and Group Two Adelaide Cup with Capecover and Great Eastern Steeplechase with It's A Dud.

Payne had no trouble finding a jockey for Danaupair Starlet after calling up an old friend, Michael Cahill.

"I'm really happy to have got Michael Cahill," Payne said.

"I spent a lot of time with Michael when we rode in Macau together several years ago.

"I rode in Macau on and of for about three years and I know how good Michael is as a jockey and a bloke."

Payne believes there are several threats to Danaupair Starlet in the Doomben Roses including the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana and fellow Victorian Marheta.

Cummings is trying to end a 23-year drought in the Queensland Oaks with Dariana.

His only Queensland Oaks victory was with Round The World in 1987.

Jockey Michael Rodd will again ride Dariana following his success on the filly last start in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick last month.

The daughter of Redoute's Choice only started her career in January and has gone on to win two of her six starts.