In a world of seven-figure yearlings, Garret Lynch has a blue collar approach.

The Murray Bridge trainer forked out a miserly $5,500 for his stable star Alainge, a mare that has him on the trail of an unlikely Melbourne Cup dream in Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Plate (2800m) at Flemington.

Snapped up at an Inglis Online Sale last year, Alainge has been a revelation for Lynch in 22 starts, nabbing six wins in under 12 months, including last month’s Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2518m) – his first stakes success.

It fits the criteria of what’s generally considered a ‘bargain buy’ in the racing vernacular, however, the 5YO daughter of Sir Prancealot is one of the most expensive horses Lynch prepares.

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“I didn’t have any of this in mind when we bought her,” Lynch, who leads the SA trainers’ premiership with 65 wins, said.

“I saw her form and thought, I’ll get her back and she’ll probably be a metropolitan horse.

“She sold cheap enough, my whole stable is always really cheap, she’s one of the most expensive ones I’ve got at $5,500.

“When I get an opportunity with a nice sort of horse, I try to capitalise on it, she’s exceeded all expectations and hopefully we can keep exceeding expectations.”

Alainge made considerable ground from last in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at $51, finishing fifth.

She then ran honestly in next start’s Onkaparinga Cup (2150m) before back-to-back Morphettville wins, including the PA Cup.

“After her Adelaide Cup run, she was 21 lengths last at the 800m and flew and got beat seven,” he said.

“The runner-up in the Adelaide Cup (Highland Bling) was beaten half a length in the Sydney Cup. If we were in that race a bit closer, I think we could have won the Adelaide Cup.

“After the race, I thought we’ll have a crack at qualifying for the Melbourne Cup – it’s starting to come to fruition.”

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The plan was vindicated in the Port Adelaide Cup, which propelled Alainge into Andrew Ramsden contention.

She’s a $23 outsider with Sportsbet for a Melbourne Cup golden ticket on Saturday, with in-form jockey Harry Grace is booked to ride.

“The Port Adelaide Cup win, you’re exempt from the ballot for the Ramsden, obviously it’s the logical way to go,” Lynch said.

“Fingers crossed we can win the Ramsden, then we are exempt from the ballot for the Melbourne Cup – that’s the real goal.

“After the Ramsden, we’ll go to the Sandown Cup which is a two-mile Listed race as well. Then we’ll probably give her a few weeks in the paddock and aim for a Melbourne Cup tilt.”

Lynch has remedied soundness issues that plagued the mare early in her career, and said that Alainge has pulled up “really well” from her PA Cup win.

“She was quite impressive there I thought, in the worst part of the track and she still ran away from them,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday in the Ramsden, I think she’s a nice chance there, as long as we can be not too far back, I think we are a real big hope.”