Praecido may have only just sealed the third win of his career but there will always be a place for the Victoria Derby placegetter in David Payne's stable.

And that's because the Rosehill trainer says you can't knock a horse who has banked almost $700,000 in race earnings.

Purchased by owner John Cordina as an afterthought for $NZ60,000 ($A53,500), Praecido looked set to scale racing's heights when he grabbed second place - and $270,000 - behind Lion Tamer in the 2010 Victoria Derby.

But with a strike-rate of just two wins from 51 starts before Wednesday, the now six-year-old has become a much-maligned horse with Sydney punters.

He finally secured his third success at Warwick Farm - his first since claiming the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill in March 2012.

The Vale Desiree Gill Handicap was a far cry from his Group One close-calls, but the victory at least was emphatic.

Apprentice Serg Lisnyy took Praecido ($6.50) to the lead and he was never headed to down Instrumentalist ($3.60) by 1-1/4 lengths.

Perplexity ($3.80) was another length away third.

Payne, a champion trainer in South Africa before heading to Australia, only had positive things to say about Praecido's return to winning form.

"He's doing well," Payne said after the 2200m race.

"The old boy's still earning money, so we keep him going. Why not?

"He's earned close to $700,000, not bad for a cheapie - we only paid $60,000 for him. I'd like to own him."

Praecido's form had been improved recently with three placings at his past four starts, all with Lisnyy aboard.

Payne praised the apprentice jockey from the Ukraine for his ability to get the best out of horses.

"They run for him, and his three kilos (allowance) is handy," Payne said.

Veteran Jim Cassidy rode Instrumentalist but stood himself down from the remainder of the meeting when he aggravated a rib cartilage injury sustained during celebrations after Zoustar's Coolmore Stud Stakes win 10 days ago.