Last year’s Snake Gully Cup winner is one of four Southern District horses in the field, along with Tim Donnelly’s Ashtomina and the Brett Cavanough pair, Last Try Wins and Avroson. 

Zero To Ten’s last five starts have all been in Sydney, including a fourth and a sixth in group three company and a fourth in a listed event.

Scobie said the seven-year old is in “excellent” shape.

“We’ve just been progressing him a bit more over a staying line this time,” Scobie said.

“He’s been great – he’s learnt how to travel and how to relax. and he’s doing quite well, he’s been in quite good company.

“I think he’s a genuine chance myself… he’s one of the ones coming down in class, if anything.”

Scobie said the Country Classic was too good an opportunity to miss and, despite racing over further recently, Zero To Ten will still head towards the Snake Gully Cup (1400m) in a fortnight.

With prizemoney in the six figures, Zero To Ten was given 60kg but will carry only 57kg with now Sydney-based apprentice Nick Heywood taking the ride.

“I was lucky enough to get Nick Heywood on, he’s had a good association with him – four starts for two wins, a second and a fourth at Hawkesbury,” Scobie said.