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By Graeme White

Short-priced favourite Danceenuff can take a step in the right direction when she starts at Corowa on Monday in a race that is lengths below what she contested first-up in Sydney.

Danceenuff ($1.80 into $1.55 favourite on TAB) will contest the Upton Centre Irrigation Benchmark 58 (1000m) with apprentice jockey Ella McGuirk aboard.

McGuirk has ridden five winners with her latest occurring at Griffith on Saturday aboard Ilzoomya.

Danceenuff (Tim Clark) heads to the barriers at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Her master Wayne Carroll was naturally pleased with Danceenuff’s first-up run where she chased home the talented Atmopsheric Rock and beat to the finish her stablemate and favourite Kreon.

That galloper has gained a start in the $2 million The Kosciuszko following his next start which produced a win at Goulburn on Friday.

That gives some indication where Danceenuff is at dropping so much in class and only going up one and a half kilograms.

Carroll said it had been a lengthy road back for Danceenuff and he was hoping she could win to then hopefully progress to another Highway.

The conditions of the country boosted race restrict it to country-only trained horses plus additional prizemoney.

“These races are really good for country trained horses. She has a good draw in two and can only improve with that first-up run,” he said.

“She had ten months between starts after a tendon injury so to do what she did first-up in Sydney was very good.

“The plan is to hopefully run well at Corowa then go back for a Class 3 Highway.”

One of McGuirk’s winners has been for Carroll, while her other four have been for trainer Doug Gorrel “who has been great giving her opportunities”.

“Ella has no racing background and is improving as she goes,” Carroll said.

Trifecta Ruby ($5.50) is first-up and is a more than capable galloper who won two of her five starts last preparation and it may have been more after being slowly away in some runs.

Altrove ($10) is also first-up from a break and can figure while Very Shamus ($12) has been solid in recent starts with no better effort than her fast finishing last run second.

Very Shamus made up several lengths over 1000m behind Xspiritous and the long straight at Corowa will suit her pattern of racing.

Meanwhile, Little Basheeba only beat three horses to the finish last time out in the same race behind Dancenuff but is also right back in grade.

Little Basheeba ($3.50 fav) and the topweight Tycoon Jenny ($4) are considered the main chances in the last of seven races.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Corowa here