Patrick Payne is hoping the feet issues that hindered the spring campaign of Zanbagh are a thing of the past.

Zanbagh makes her return to racing at Flemington on Saturday in a 1600m handicap after failing to show her best during the spring.

The daughter of Bernardini was on a Caulfield and Melbourne Cups campaign after finishing second to Rising Romance in the ATC Australian Oaks last year for the late Guy Walter.

Zanbagh was placed once in six starts during the spring for Payne, finishing third in the Benalla Cup in October.

"She was feeling a bit of pain in her heels last campaign," Payne said.

"Most of the time she was pretty good but then she'd pull up a little sore after each run.

"We've given her plenty of time and have brought her back when there's a little bit more juice in the ground."

Payne isn't concerned with Zanbagh tackling the 1600m journey first-up, saying the mare has had a good foundation.

He said he had changed the mare's work, trying to get a bit more speed into her legs after she was one-paced during the spring.

Zanbagh was taken to Cranbourne last month for a 990m trial, finishing almost nine lengths astern of Oakleigh Plate runner-up Under The Louvre.

However Payne was more than happy with the trial after Zanbagh was tailed off in the early stages.

"Watching from afar you would say, 'okay she's finished last' but to the eye her last 300 metres was pretty good," he said.

Depending on how Zanbagh performs on Saturday she could head to Adelaide for one run or to Queensland for the upcoming winter carnival.

Joining Zanbagh at Flemington on Saturday will be Signoff who has been given 60.5kg for his first-up run after finishing fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup.