Joe Pride will have a rare off-season runner in Melbourne this weekend as his consistent galloper Accredited lines up at Sandown in the $150,000 Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1400m).

While Pride has celebrated major Group 1 successes at Flemington with Terravista and Sacred Choice, Saturday’s race marks just his sixth Victorian starter for the season—and notably, his first outside of Black Type level.

Accredited, a son of All Too Hard, impressed when resuming in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford earlier this month, finishing a close fifth and less than a length from the winner.

“I take one or two each if we find the right race for them, it’s not hard to do – it’s only 10 hours down the road – and the horses handle it pretty well,” Pride said.

“I’m happy to give him his opportunity, he’s a nice horse. 1400 metres, he showed last preparation that is probably his best trip and he’s off a short let-up. I thought he was excellent in the Takeover Target and he’ll be very hard to beat Saturday.”

The gelding will wear the Proven Thoroughbreds colours, which have previously been carried to success in Melbourne by Private Eye and The Black Cloud. If weather conditions up north continue to deteriorate, Pride hinted he may send more runners south this campaign.

“There are options for him in three states, but he needs dry tracks so we’ll go where we need to,” he said. “If it’s wet here in Sydney and Brisbane and it stays dry down there, we might take him down the highway a couple of times, but I haven’t really got a direct plan in that way.”

Accredited is currently $4.20 second favourite with betting companies, trailing only Elouyou at $3.50. Jamie Melham has been booked to ride and will carry 55kg in Saturday’s benchmark 100 contest.