The Group One Galaxy at Randwick in April could be the carrot to finally entice Toowoomba trainer Ritchie Stephenson to make a rare interstate venture with under-rated sprinter Azzaland.Azzaland will line up a short priced favourite in the Sponsorship@BRC Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday following his last start second to Burdekin Blues in the Bat Out of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast on January 2.Azzaland, who has won nine of his 16 starts, only went down by one length while Burdekin B
The Group One Galaxy at Randwick in April could be the carrot to finally entice Toowoomba trainer Ritchie Stephenson to make a rare interstate venture with under-rated sprinter Azzaland.
Azzaland will line up a short priced favourite in the Sponsorship@BRC Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday following his last start second to Burdekin Blues in the Bat Out of Hell (900m) at the Gold Coast on January 2.
Azzaland, who has won nine of his 16 starts, only went down by one length while Burdekin Blues' victory convinced his trainer Barry Baldwin to aim him for Saturday week's Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Stephenson rarely takes horses interstate and still recalls advice given to him early in his career by the late Jim Griffiths.
"Jim was one of our best trainers and he used to tell me to stay at home and let the opposition come to me," Stephenson said.
Stephenson followed Griffiths' advice when he decided against taking Azzaland south last autumn but he's now changed his mind.
"I'll see how he goes on Saturday but I'm thinking about taking him to Sydney for a run or two," Stephenson said.
"If he happened to win or run well in the race I have in mind in Sydney he might stay on for the Galaxy."
Stephenson has selected the Listed Schweppervescence (1100m) at Rosehill on March 20 for Azzaland which will determine if he stays for the Group One Galaxy (1100m) at Randwick a month later.
Stephenson was delighted with Azzaland's performance against Burdekin Blues and rated him unlucky when runner-up to undefeated mare Chakvetadze at his previous start over 1010 metres at Doomben last month.
"His second to Burdekin Blues was an excellent run and he was only beaten one length by one of the fastest horses in the country," Stephenson said.
"I thought he should have beaten Chakvetadze the start before when he was beaten less than one length.
"Azzaland had to travel three and four wide while Chakvetadze got a dream run up along the fence after missing the start.
"We carried a lot more weight than her that day."
Stephenson has ruled out a Melbourne trip for Azzaland who will be ridden by Stathi Katsidis.
"Taking him to Melbourne would be a risk when you don't know if he can handle being on the other leg racing anti-clockwise," he said.