A searching track gallop on Thursday morning will determine whether Scone gelding With A Chance returns to Sydney this weekend for another bite at the cherry.With A Chance was a late scratching from Randwick last Saturday after jockey Hugh Bowman became concerned with his action on the way to the starting stalls.Trainer Luke Griffith was as surprised as anybody when the rising eight-year-old headed back to the mounting enclosure prematurely but was happy to back Bowman's judgment."He was okay on
A searching track gallop on Thursday morning will determine whether Scone gelding With A Chance returns to Sydney this weekend for another bite at the cherry.
With A Chance was a late scratching from Randwick last Saturday after jockey Hugh Bowman became concerned with his action on the way to the starting stalls.
Trainer Luke Griffith was as surprised as anybody when the rising eight-year-old headed back to the mounting enclosure prematurely but was happy to back Bowman's judgment.
"He was okay on the Thursday, he worked really well so I couldn't believe it," Griffith said.
"Hugh has ridden him a few times and when he cantered him around to the barriers he felt he wasn't following through one hundred per cent so he thought it was better to be safe than sorry.
"I had the chiropractor look at the horse yesterday and there were a few issues with some muscles in his back and also in his hip so he gave him a jerk around in those areas.
"He had a trot and canter today and seemed okay so he'll do some fast work on the grass tomorrow and if he's okay we'll get a vet certificate."
While Griffith is disappointed last weekend's trek from his Hunter Valley base to Sydney proved to be in vain, he hopes it was a blessing in disguise.
Pending his work on Thursday and a necessary veterinary clearance, With A Chance will line up in the Winter Championship (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
While the versatile gelding has won at all four tracks in Sydney, Griffith believes Rosehill is his favoured venue.
It was where he posted his biggest victory in the Listed Winter Stakes three years ago and with 56.5kg and the prospect of the track drying out to slow by Saturday, Griffith is warming to his charge's chances.
"It's a nice race on Saturday so we're hoping we can run him, although Strat's Flyer looks hard to beat," Griffith said.
"He's won at every track in Sydney but he's run his best races at Rosehill and he's won a Listed race there.
"He struggles on the really heavy tracks when they get soggy and shifty but he likes it slow."
Griffith is yet to find a jockey for With A Chance as Bowman will be in the Northern Territory this weekend for the Darwin Cup carnival.
However, he won't have much trouble finding a replacement with Chris Waller confirming on Wednesday Rangirangdoo won't run while Gerald Ryan is leaning towards saving Synonym for another day, leaving a maximum of eight runners in the $100,000 race.