Sue Grills has confirmed country star Border Rebel will head to Sydney for Saturday's Listed Carrington Stakes but the trainer believes he has the job ahead of him to score a first-up win.Grills has decided on the Carrington Stakes (1100m) instead of the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast, with weather a determining factor.Border Rebel was given topweight of 60kg for the Carrington when weights were released on Wednesday.Nearest to him in the weights is classy sprinter Keen Commander with

Sue Grills has confirmed country star Border Rebel will head to Sydney for Saturday's Listed Carrington Stakes but the trainer believes he has the job ahead of him to score a first-up win.

Grills has decided on the Carrington Stakes (1100m) instead of the Bat Out Of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast, with weather a determining factor.

Border Rebel was given topweight of 60kg for the Carrington when weights were released on Wednesday.

Nearest to him in the weights is classy sprinter Keen Commander with 59.5kg and he's the horse Grills fears.

"He'll be running in Sydney, he's come back really well but he has got the job ahead of him with that weight over 1100 metres at Randwick and with Keen Commander in there," Grills said.

"He's a very honest horse and he'll run a good race but I think he'll be lucky to beat Keen Commander on his last run."

Keen Commander was second to Swift Alliance in the Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick last start.

Border Rebel, the reigning NSW Country Horse of the Year, hasn't raced since his unplaced effort in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton in July.

Grills had the sprinter nominated for Randwick and the Gold Coast but said she couldn't take any risks with Queensland's recent wet weather.

"For me to get to the Gold Coast takes eight and a half hours and I'm worried it would get washed out," Grills said.

"I don't want to drive all the way up there and have the races called off, then he still hasn't had a start."

Apprentice Tim Bell, who is indentured to Grills at Tamworth, rode the five-year-old in an exhibition gallop on his home track last week and said Border Rebel was in good order for his return.

Bell is still considering a permanent move to Sydney and believes it will happen in the near future.

"I've hit a real rough patch the last two months due to suspensions and things like that," Bell admitted.

"I'm getting ready to come to Sydney soon but I'm still not 100 per cent sure where I'll go to.

"I've had some great offers but I've just got to try and put my finger on the right one and as soon as that happens I'll be in Sydney."

The 17-year-old was slapped with another careless riding suspension at Canterbury on Wednesday but is free to ride Border Rebel with the suspension to commence on January 4 and finish on January 16.

"He's going well, he hasn't had an official trial but he should be fit enough," Bell said.

"The 60 kilos over 1100 metres at Randwick is probably going to be more like a 1200-metre race for him. He always goes really well first-up and I think he's come back just as good if not a little bit better than last preparation."