David Payne has a healthy respect for Border Rebel but believes the Carrington Stakes weight scale gives Cardinal Virtue a chance in Saturday's Listed feature at Randwick.Payne hadn't originally targeted the Carrington Stakes (1100m) with Cardinal Virtue but a strong Boxing Day win at Randwick convinced the trainer to have a throw at the stumps."We weren't planning on the Carrington, I threw a nomination in last week just to see what was going to be in it," Payne said."Then when he won so well (

David Payne has a healthy respect for Border Rebel but believes the Carrington Stakes weight scale gives Cardinal Virtue a chance in Saturday's Listed feature at Randwick.

Payne hadn't originally targeted the Carrington Stakes (1100m) with Cardinal Virtue but a strong Boxing Day win at Randwick convinced the trainer to have a throw at the stumps.

"We weren't planning on the Carrington, I threw a nomination in last week just to see what was going to be in it," Payne said.

"Then when he won so well (last Sunday) I decided to back him up."

Reigning NSW Country Horse of the Year Border Rebel was installed as $2.10 favourite with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday following the shock omission of Keen Commander from the acceptors due to a high temperature.

However, Border Rebel's price eased through the day to $2.40 while Cardinal Virtue tightened from $4.20 to second favouritism at $3.40.

Payne rates Border Rebel, winner of 12 of his 17 starts, as the logical horse to beat.

"Border Rebel is a very good horse, but he does have a big weight," Payne said.

"I think that evens it up a little bit. I certainly wouldn't like to take him on at level weights but at least we're getting a bit of weight from him so that levels it up a bit."

Border Rebel will lump 60kg in his return to racing.

The Sue Grills-trained gelding hasn't started since his unplaced effort with the same weight in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton in July.

Cardinal Virtue carried 57kg in the Benchmark 85 at Randwick on Sunday and drops to 53kg in the Carrington.

Since joining Payne's Rosehill stable in the middle of the year Cardinal Virtue has started seven times and recorded stakes placings in the Group Two Premiere Stakes and Listed Lightning Handicap.

"He has come through Sunday's run well, I'm happy with him," Payne said.

Trainer Denise McGrath revealed stable star Keen Commander had to be taken to a veterinary hospital late on Wednesday night as his temperature continued to rise.

"He ended up at University Veterinary Hospital late last night, around midnight," McGrath said at the Randwick trials on Thursday.

"He had a high temperature and we couldn't get it down."

Keen Commander had been showing good form on the track with a last-start second to Swift Alliance in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap on December 18.

McGrath said Keen Commander appeared to be recovering well on Thursday.

"The vets sound positive this morning which is a great relief," McGrath said.

"He seems to have come through it OK this morning."

The trainer said it would be a matter of monitoring the sprinter in the coming days before deciding whether to continue on with his preparation or send him for a spell.