The Gunnedah trainer has nominated Epic Decision for the $150,000 race at Scone on Sunday.

With one more race next to his name, Epic Decision would be ineligible for the qualifier, Groth said.

So the trainer thought he’d give the four-year-old stallion a shot in the big race.

“He deserves an opportunity and he’s a winner,” Groth said of Epic Decision who has five wins from 19 career starts.

“If you’ve got a $150,000 race in your own backyard and a horse to race, you’ve got to have a crack.”

Epic Decision will lineup against the fancied Suncraze amongst other horses who all have incredible records in their own right.

Of the 20 nominated horses – none of which have raced more than 20 times – they collectively have 67 wins and 87 placings.

With that being said, Groth wasn’t “overly confident” heading into the race but said Epic Decision – who won last start at Walcha over 1000 metres – would give it his all.

“It’s an extremely tough race with a lot of top horses,” Groth said.

“Epic’s best form has been between 1000 and 1200 distance-wise. This will be his first attempt at 1400.

“The big question mark is will he run the 1400 strongly but he won’t let us down and he’ll give it a shot.”

Before the qualifier, Groth will take three horses to Moree on Thursday, March 15.

First up for the day will be About Time in the Racecourse Takeaway Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1400 metres.

The bay gelding comes in on the back of two seconds and Groth said the seven-year-old was ready to go at the distance.

Groth also said the barrier was a worry – About Time drew barrier nine of nine – but said his last run was promising.

“Last start at Tamworth was really good. We threw him in and he did well,” Groth said of the second placing.

Groth’s other runners on the day are Blu Boy Jag – who is continuing a return from injury – and Crimson Sun who’ll need luck from the wide draw of barrier 16.

“He’s one of those horses who needs to be in the middle there. I’ll just leave it up to jockey,” Groth said.

Groth’s final horse to run over the next five days is Divine Brown at Armidale on Monday.