The Kosciuszko is a special conditions race, held over 1200m at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Eligible only to country trained horses, the $2m set weights plus penalties feature was added to the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival in 2018 to highlight the talent of country racing and although not a Group 1 race, it attracts a magnitude of hype and intrigue.
Last year’s Kosciuszko was taken out by Shoalhaven Heads based galloper, Art Cadeau, who lines up again in this year’s race. The 2019 winner, Handle The Truth, and 2020 winner, It’s Me, will also be saddled up and all three will be looking to take home a second Kosciuszko trophy, which looks a real possibility according to the market.
Dabble currently has It’s Me favourite at $4.80 ahead of Wagga Town Plate winner, Front Page, and Northern Rivers trained galloper, Far Too Easy, at $5.50. Handle The Truth is next best at $7.00.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and this race will be very competitive with the mammoth prize money up for grabs. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of The Kosciuszko 2022 along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Art Cadeau (3) – $12
Jockey – Damian Lane 59kg
Trainer – Terry Robinson
Winner of this race last year who resumes here. Won this race first up off a lengthy spell last year and has trialled up well in preparation for this. Form last prep is good enough for this, and he runs his best races here at Randwick.
2. Handle The Truth (6) – $7.00
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 59kg
Trainer – Keith Dryden
KOSCIUSZKO 2022: The all important barrier draw for Saturday’s $2m #TheKosciuszko at Royal Randwick! It’ll be race 5 at 2.50pm.
Emergencies: Irish Songs, Ten Bells, Testator Silens, Know Where To Look. pic.twitter.com/bn59otnWXc
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 11, 2022
Winner of this race in 2019 and runner up last year. Chased home Eduardo first up in the Concorde before finishing well back in The Shorts behind Nature Strip, but was far from disgraced. That form is excellent for this and he’ll get a good run from the gate. Can win.
3. Front Page (4) – $5.50
Jockey – Tyler Schiller (a) 59kg
Trainer – Geoff Duryea
Resumes here. Destroyed her rivals and the clock first up last prep in the Wagga Town Plate, before a couple of unplaced runs in Victoria. Has a brilliant fresh record and will roll forward from the low draw. Has to be respected.
4. Mnementh (12) – $23
Jockey – Chad Schofield 58kg
Trainer – Mitchell Beer
Another who resumes here. Chased home Front Page in the Wagga Town Plate two back, before a good win at Rosehill. Won a trial by a big space in preparation for this but will need some luck from the wide gate. Place looks best.
5. Another One (1) – $19
Jockey – William Pike 58kg
Trainer – Gary Colvin
Strung two good wins together, including the Country Championship Final here at Randwick, before a distant third in the Wagga Town Plate. Given two solid hit outs in order for this and will get a soft run from the low draw. Will need some luck in the straight but can figure in the finish.
6. Far Too Easy (7) – $5.50
Jockey – James Orman 57.5kg
Trainer – David McColm
Northern Rivers visitor who destroyed his rivals last start at the Gold Coast. Has a lethal turn of foot on his day and Queensland’s leading rider, James Orman, has flown down for the ride. Looks to be one of the main winning chances.
7. Fender (14) – $19
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 57kg
Trainer – Brett Cavanough
Ran well in a strong race last start at the Gold Coast. Wasn’t beaten far two back in the Ramornie at Grafton which is good enough to be competitive here. Will get back from the wide gate and be saved for one shot at them.
8. It’s Me (5) – $4.80F
Jockey – James McDonald 55.5kg
Trainer – Brett Cavanough
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Sprouted wings late first up to win at Doomben before a luckless last start in the Sheraco behind Shades Of Rose. Clearly come back well this prep and has drawn sweetly with McDonald on. Has a brilliant record at Randwick and looks a big chance of bettering that here.
9. Cavalier Charles (9) – $41
Jockey – Nick Heywood 56kg
Trainer – Matthew Dale
Wagga jockey Nick Heywood will ride Scone Country Championships Wildcard winner Cavalier Charles for trainer Matt Dale and owner Michael Thomas in the $2 Million The Kosciusko at Randwick next Saturday pic.twitter.com/nYVyzbJcQd
— Graeme White (@GraemeWhiteSky) October 7, 2022
Ran well first up here at Randwick in BM88 grade. Has a good finish on his day and will get the race run to suit. Yet to place here at Randwick which is some concern but the drier conditions will be in his favour.
10. Anethole (11) – $11
Jockey – Tom Sherry 56kg
Trainer – Cody Morgan
Ran ok first up at Tamworth before a super effort last start behind Nature Strip, where he hammered the line late. Will get back from the gate but if he can repeat his last effort he will be right in the mix here at good odds.
11. Spiranac (8) – $23
Jockey – Reece Jones (a) 55.5kg
Trainer – Rodney Northam
Got back and ran on well first up behind Fox Fighter. Drops 3kg on that run here and has a good second up record. Finished third in this race last year and looks on track to run another good race. Each-way chance.
12. Commando Hunt (10) – $23
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 55kg
Trainer – Cameron Crockett
Beaten favourite both runs back this prep at Dubbo and Tamworth. Form last prep is good enough to be competitive here but needs to improve on his recent efforts to be winning.
Under a week to #thekosciuszko and COMMANDO HUNT is coming along perfectly for his shot at the big $2,000,000 🏔
He’s one horse who wont have to worry about the rain when he hits #royalrandwick next Saturday ☔️💪
Next step:
Crossing the fingers for a nice barrier draw🤞 pic.twitter.com/pwt8GD4Zbb
— Cameron Crockett Racing (@camcrockettrace) October 9, 2022
13. Talbragar (2) – $34
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 55kg
Trainer – Cody Morgan
Comes into this unbeaten after three strong wins in the bush. Will find this a lot tougher but hard to knock winning form and he’s been given two trials in preparation. Not the worst.
14. Le Melody (13) – $23
Jockey – Rachel King 53kg
Trainer – Cody Morgan
Bolted in at Tamworth last start, albeit in class 3 company. Will find this harder and has come up with a bad gate but has a good record and won’t disgrace herself.
15e. Irish Songs (N/A) – $61
Jockey – N/A 59kg
Trainer – Kurt Goldman
Never got into the race first up at Moonee Valley under the big weight. Best form is good enough to be competitive but struggling to find that form of late.
16e. Ten Bells (N/A) – $51
Jockey – N/A 54kg
Trainer – Scott Collings
Scrapped home at Canterbury last start in testing conditions. This is a lot tougher but has a brilliant winning record and loves Randwick.
17e. Testator Silens (N/A) – $81
Jockey – N/A 57kg
Trainer – Luke Clarke
Resumes here after a good preparation where he won three in a row, including a Highway at this track/distance. Trialled well leading into this and has to be considered a live chance if he gains a start.
18e. Know Where To Look (N/A) – $126
Jockey – N/A 53.5kg
Trainer – Roy McCabe
Won the Panorama at Bathurst last start at big odds. This race is much tougher and it’s hard to see her winning back to back here.
Final Word
A competitive bunch of bush trained gallopers line up here in The $2m Kosciuszko. Speed should be good with Le Melody, Front Page and Talbragar going forward, and the track finally should be back in the good/soft range.
The countdown is on with only seven days until The Kosciuszko.
We caught up with Cody Morgan Racing this morning for an update on his three horses Talbragar, Anethole and Le Melody, ahead of the $2m race at Royal Randwick over 1200m. pic.twitter.com/ZaCdLboGm7
— Tamworth Jockey Club (@_TJC) October 8, 2022
Tamworth trainer, Cody Morgan, has a strong hand in the race with three runners, and I’m going with Anethole on top. His last run behind Nature Strip was very good, where he charged through the line to finish on the heels of Mazu and Masked Crusader. If he can repeat that, he will be extremely hard to beat in this.
It’s Me was a brilliant winner first up at Doomben before a luckless fourth in G2 company last start. She ticks a lot of boxes here and gets McDonald on from the good gate. Looks the main danger.
Handle The Truth comes through some strong races and looks on track for this, as does Far Too Easy who was a strong last start winner at the Gold Coast. Front Page has to be respected first up and will be right in the mix if he can repeat his Wagga Town Plate run here.
The Kosciuszko Tip
10. Anethole – Each-way ($11/$3.50)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
