Scone trainer Rod Northam will give his unbeaten country star Maroney Avenue the chance to race his way into the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 6.
Northam moved closer to his Epsom dream when Maroney Avenue kept his unbeaten record intact at Tamworth on Tuesday when he recorded his sixth win from six starts over 1200m.
Northam had no hesitation in entering Maroney Avenue for the $500,000 Epsom (1600m) even though Snitzel five-year-old at the time was still rising through the Benchmark grades.
Tuesday's win was his first in open company and he will now proceed to either the Newcastle Cup carnival or Randwick next week in a bid to enhance his chances of gaining an Epsom start.
Northam plans to run Maroney Avenue in either $150,000 Cameron Handicap (1400m) at Broadmeadow on September 19 or the $125,000 Bill Ritchie Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 22.
The winners of both the Cameron and the Bill Ritchie is exempt from a ballot for the Epsom and Northam realises Maroney Avenue will have to win one or the other to get into the Epsom.
"It's a dream to have a horse that you could even enter for the Epsom but this bloke deserves the chance," Northam said.
"I have never had a horse win his first six starts, not too many trainers have.
"We'll have a good think about it but I think he deserves his chance."
Robert Thompson has ridden Maroney Avenue in all his six wins.
