Long-range plans for Archover include the 2010 Wagga Cup but in the immediate future the Canberra-trained four-year-old has his chance to add a second metropolitan win at Randwick.The gelding created a big impression when he beat Jordan Valley by a half-head over 2400 metres at Randwick on May 23 but was outgunned in the WJ McKell Cup a week later.Trainer Norm Gardner admitted in hindsight the seven-day back-up proved too big a task but said the three-week break between the McKell and Saturday's

Long-range plans for Archover include the 2010 Wagga Cup but in the immediate future the Canberra-trained four-year-old has his chance to add a second metropolitan win at Randwick.

The gelding created a big impression when he beat Jordan Valley by a half-head over 2400 metres at Randwick on May 23 but was outgunned in the WJ McKell Cup a week later.

Trainer Norm Gardner admitted in hindsight the seven-day back-up proved too big a task but said the three-week break between the McKell and Saturday's Allawah Hotel Handicap (2000m) was ideal.

"We backed him up and it just took the zip out of him," Gardner said.

"He has had a freshen-up - just a few days in the paddock with a rug on - and came back to the stable bright and happy.

"Coming back in distance will also help him."

Although Archover has settled back in his past two races, Gardner said he was versatile enough to take up a more forward position if he had to.

"I will just tell Glyn Schofield to have him where he is comfortable," he said.

"He has been getting back in his races but that's mainly because he has been drawing wide.

"If there is no pace on he can go forward if he has to.

"I still think he is six months off being fully mature and the long-term aim is next year's Wagga Cup."

Gardner is originally from Wagga Wagga and would like nothing more than to win the town's premier race.

He took Archover there during this year's carnival where he won a rating 67 race on April 30.

"We would follow a similar path to this year, except he would be going for the big prize," Gardner said.

"I think he can be an ideal country Cups horse and he is a very good winter horse."

Gardner has 10 horses in work and continues to be involved with his heating and gas appliance business which brought him to Canberra some years ago.

"It's a good line of work right now," he said.

Winter in the area is notoriously cold but Gardner said the Acton track at Canberra did not have the problems other artificial surfaces have experienced.

"We work on the Acton track which really thrives in the cold and no-one has any problems with it," he said.

"The club put a lot of work in and it's the ideal surface and also performs well when it's wet."