There will be mixed emotions for Patrick Payne if he can carry on the work of the late Guy Walter and win a significant race with Zanbagh this spring.

During his successful career in the saddle, Payne rode feature race winners for Walter, most notably three Group Ones on champion Tie The Knot and two on brilliant sprinting mare Spinning Hill.

Both horses were raced by the Tait family whose famous red silks with a white cap are also carried by Zanbagh who was sent to Payne after the sudden death of Walter in May.

Runner-up in the VRC Oaks and the Australian Oaks, Zanbagh kicks off her four-year-old season at Moonee Valley on Saturday with the Caulfield Cup her target.

Payne admitted there would be an element of satisfaction if he could prepare Zanbagh to win a big race this spring in honour of the trainer who nurtured her talent.

"But there would be a bit of sadness too," Payne said.

"It was Guy's horse. We all want good horses but I didn't want it under this circumstance."

Payne paid tribute to Walter's horsemanship which has provided Zanbagh with the platform to launch an assault towards the feature races as a lightly-raced and sound four-year-old.

"There's a bit of pressure because Guy was a great trainer and I'm an unproven trainer," Payne said.

"There's a bit of pressure to get her to perform as well as what he got her going."

Zanbagh resumes in a competitive 1500m race and Payne has been delighted with the mare since she joined his stable.

"Guy was just such a fantastic trainer. She came to my place totally undamaged," Payne said.

"Just beautiful, sound, happy. She's a lovely horse to deal with."

Payne deliberately chose to start Zanbagh's campaign over longer than 1200 or 1400m, saying her staying prowess was her biggest asset.

"She's had the foundation and she can travel in her comfort zone and she can be more competitive that way," he said.

"We think she'll be an ideal Caulfield Cup horse with her rating and the way she stays.

"Her third run will be in the Naturalism Stakes. That will determine whether she is going well enough."