Plumpton trainer Patrick Payne is heading to Flemington in a buoyant mood with his team on Satuday, and he is particularly pleased with New Zealand-bred gelding Squid Game ahead of his 1000m test.

The son of Shooting To Win has placed in his two starts this preparation and Payne is confident his charge can pick up a winning cheque this weekend.

“He is in fantastic order. He just loves the 1000m up the straight. The straight takes away a bit of trouble he might get into,” Payne told RSN.

“From a trainer’s point of view, it is the best we have ever had him. He is really fit and well and runs really well up the straight.”

Squid Game was purchased by his trainer out of Inglewood Stud’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $150,000.