THE Country Championships has handed ordinary country trainers like Alan Ryan the keys to a previously locked gateway to the shiny lights of city racing.

From his stables at the end of the run at Grafton racecourse, Ryan has Redwolf riding a rare road to riches in the world rural racing. On Saturday the four-year-old gelding will be chasing a winner's purse of $150,000 in the final at Royal Randwick.

"Ally" currently has just four horses in work. Desperate Dan will be just his third charge to race in 2015 when it starts in race six at Grafton today.

"If you've got more tickets in the raffle you've got more chance of winning, but I've been lucky enough to be given a good horse," Ryan said.

"Just the luck of the draw I suppose."

Ryan travelled with the horse to Steve Hodge's stables in Newcastle on Monday and will complete the journey to Sydney's Eastern Suburbs on Saturday morning.

"The horse has travelled well and settled in well," Ryan said yesterday.

"Everything's right, ready to go."

In its first year, the qualifier itself already ranks as Clarence River Jockey Club's third richest race on the calendar behind the Grafton Cup and Ramornie Handicap. The difference with this event being exclusively aimed at up and coming country trained horses that have had fewer than 21 starts.

Racing NSW has received wide praise for providing a genuine pathway for Country Racing to be involved in The Championships, which is the pinnacle of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. One of the few complaints that has been raised is that Saturday's final is not exclusively for country jockeys.

While Sydney's leading jockeys will mount the majority of starters, Ryan has stuck to his guns. Grafton's Matthew McGuren will be the only apprentice in the field. He will have his work cut out after Redwolf drew barrier 21.

"I'm more than happy with Matthew McGuren and I wouldn't change him for anyone," Ryan said.

"From out there it's going to make the job harder but he'll give the horse every possible chance."

GRAFTON DARES TO DREAM

TWELVE months ago Redwolf was moved to Grafton from Gerald Ryan's stables in Sydney for owners Terry and Fay Kelly, the proprietors of the Post Office Hotel in South Grafton.

The couple will fly to Sydney on Saturday morning to be trackside for the big occasion.

Terry joked it would be "free grog all round" back at the hotel should Redwolf get the chocolates.

"It's been fantastic," Kelly said of the journey so far.

"It was quite strange actually, at Grafton no-one wanted to back him."

Redwolf paid $21 for the win on March 20 and is likely to be an even more lucrative chance in the final, with an opening price of $51.

Tarangower, who ran second in the Hunter and North West Association qualifier at Tamworth on March 12, was the early favourite at $4.60. Voodoo Lad won at Tamworth and was also on the top line of betting at $6. A third H&NWA horse, Artlee was also at $6 after winning the Wildcard, as well as Without A Shadow, who won at Goulburn on March 20.

While the odds are stacked against Redwolf claiming his fifth career win, Kelly dares to believe.

"They can't beat the Grafton horses can they?

"Everyone's wishing us good luck, a few backed him last time and I just hope they can do the same again. I reckon the pub will be packed.

"It would be a dream come true for Grafton. The country bumpkins knocking off the city folk.

"It's going to be pretty tough at Randwick from the wide draw but all you can do is try."