WAGGA trainer Wayne Carroll will embark on the first stage of a two-week plan at Rosehill on Saturday that he hopes can result in metropolitan success for Grand Allowance.
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Carroll will take Grand Allowance to Sydney for the listed $100,000 ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday with eyes on another race in the city a week later.
But while it may not be the end goal, Grand Allowance has drawn the inside barrier and will only tackle a small field of six opponents.
Carroll believes Grand Allowance’s price of $51 is silly.
“He’s going really good,” Carroll said.
“I didn’t know it was going to work out like this but he’s ended up in a seven-horse field in a $100,000 race.
“There’s not going to be a heap of speed so I hope he jumps out and sit’s on the leaders hammer, goes to sleep and from there he can sprint just as good as the rest of them.”
Grand Allowance has always shown above average ability in between injury and barrier issues.
He stepped up to 2000m for the first time last month at Benalla when dashing away for an impressive victory in a $40,000 race on Cup day.
Since then, he returned from six weeks off with a pleasing fourth in the Snake Gully Cup (1400m) at Gundagai.
Carroll plans to run him at Rosehill on Saturday, and then leave him at Bede Murrays for another city assignment a week later.
“He backs up really well,” Carroll explained.
“So with six weeks off leading into the Snake Gully Cup, I didn’t want to leave it another three weeks heading into the race at Randwick.
“So with the race next Saturday at Randwick, the idea is to take him up this week, leave him there with Bede and then back him up. He was on the back up when he won at Benalla.
“Over the years, one thing I’ve learnt about going to Sydney is that you have got to earn your stripes.”
The two week plan will also give Carroll a better idea on a Wagga Gold Cup tilt next campaign.
“The next two runs will give me a guide as to whether he’s good enough to bring home and set for a Cup. I think he is,” Carroll said.
“If he wins (on Saturday) then the plan goes out the window.
“He’s definitely good enough to win a good race in his career.”
Kathy O’Hara takes the ride.
Carroll will also be back to Sydney on Wednesday when Heysen contests a Benchmark 67 over 1900m at Canterbury.
Meantime, Grand Allowance will be one of four Southern District horses in action at Rosehill on Saturday.
Chris Heywood has High Opinion in the Highway race while Brett Cavanough has The Monstar and Just A Bullet racing.
