Richard Laming’s classy mare Payroll is out to go one better than her third 12 months ago when she lines-up fit and ready to fire in the Magic Millions Trophy 2018 this weekend at the Gold Coast Racecourse.

Payroll was put through her paces at the Gold Coast track, host to the $10 million Magic Millions Race Day on Saturday, on Tuesday morning and her Cranbourne-based trainer could not have been more impressed.

“She was on her own over 1400 metres and quickened up a little the last 600 metres and we’re happy with her,” Laming told Racenet.

“She’s pretty ready.”

Last Queensland Summer Racing Carnival the consistent daughter of Not A Single Doubt finished just a length back third behind Stratum Star in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy (2200m).

She did it tough from a wide barrier 13 of 16 draw as a $17 outsider that day, but won’t be found anywhere near that price in Magic Millions Trophy betting this season.

Currently Payroll sits top of the pre-field Magic Millions Trophy odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, the now five-year-old at $3.60 to take her spring – summer racing record to three wins on the trot.

Back in November at Sandown’s Ladbrokes Park she enjoyed a narrow victory in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) before a last start victory at Caulfield on Boxing Day in the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m).

Payroll will be rising notably in distance for the Magic Millions Trophy on the weekend, seeing further than 2000m for the first time since the same race last year.

Still, the bookies are taking no chances with her and Laming also remains confident his mare is the one to beat.

“She doesn’t take a lot of work and that run at Caulfield has really brought her on,” Laming said.

“It was just a matter of getting her out there this morning to have a look about and have a blow.

“A million dollar race is obviously never easy and you need a bit of luck but she’s the form mare and there doesn’t look a Stratum Star in the race this year.”

Laming has also kept the Listed $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) over the mile and a half in late March on the upcoming autumn agenda for Payroll who has won over half-a-million in prize money over her 23 starts to date.

“Everything has gone to plan and we’ll see what happens on Saturday,” Laming said.

“If she has a gut buster then she’ll probably go to the paddock.

“If she doesn’t have a hard run and comes through it we might look at a race like the Mornington Cup.

“This is definitely the best we’ve had her – she’s in career best form, she’s strengthened right up and her racing pattern is telling us that.

“I think she’s really only just hitting her straps so there’s no rush to get her off to stud.

“I’d like to get her out to 2400m and if she can handle that then she might be a chance in one of the better races in the spring.”

To back Payroll at the Gold Coast on the weekend at the best Magic Millions Trophy 2018 odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.