Tips Category: The Kosciuszko

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2022 The Kosciuszko Runner By Runner Preview, Odds & Tips

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 


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


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.


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.


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 TipLogo

10. Anethole – Each-way ($11/$3.50)

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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.

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2021 The Kosciuszko Runner By Runner Preview, Odds & Tips

While there is a bigger 1200m race on the card, The Kosciuszko is such an important race for the industry, highlighting the incredible work that country trainers put into their horses that typically goes unrecognized. We have analysed every horse in the race and have found one at big odds that could run a big race, so don’t miss out on our runner by runner preview.

Sportsbet currently have Handle The Truth, the 2019 winner, as $4.40 favourite, with Edit just behind in the market. The bookies clearly think that there are four main chances for the race, given there are four priced $7 or less, with the next closest at double figure odds. Does the market have it right? We don’t think so!

Read on below to find out runner by runner preview and best tips for the 2021 edition of The Kosciuszko!

1. Handle The Truth (1) – $4.40
Jockey – Nash Rawiller
Trainer – Keith Dryden

His record this prep may not be eye-catching but that is because Handle The Truth has been racing against horses lining up in The Everest. A 4.4L fourth to Nature Strip first up doesn’t seem impressive but it may be good enough form for him to win here. Nash Rawiller is flying at the moment and the 2019 winner of this race has exceptional form on heavy tracks, the query is he hasn’t won third up from six tries. 

2. Front Page (SCR)

3. Art Cadeau (3) – $6.50
Jockey – Tommy Berry
Trainer – Terry Robinson

Art Cadeau is clearly the form horse in the race, despite coming into it first up. He has finished in the top two in all 11 of his career runs, winning five and coming second in six. Will he be wound up enough off just one trial, with his last run being all the way back in April?

4. Plonka (7) – $34
Jockey – Joshua Parr
Trainer – Warren Gavenlock

Plonka hasn’t had the best form coming into this, coming eighth and fifth in his first two runs this preparation. He seems to prefer good tracks better and may be out of his depth here. 

5. Aheadofhistime (9) – $61
Jockey – Jeff Penza
Trainer – Trevor Hardy

This five-year-old gelding seems to do his best work early and has been freshened for the race, having five weeks between competitive runs. Another think working in his favour is that five of his six career wins have come on rain affected ground, meaning the track should be playing perfectly for him. Is fair enough in the market considering this is a step up from what he is used to, but it wouldn’t surprise if he featured in the minor placings. 

6. Spiranac (8) – $7
Jockey – James McDonald
Trainer – Rodney Northam

Spiranac has good career stats of six wins from 14 starts and is 3:2-0-1 third up, indicating she could be ready to burst here, but has better stats on dry ground. The booking of McDonald is clearly something to look out for here but the conditions may not suit. 

7. Edit (11) – $4.80
Jockey – Hugh Bowman
Trainer – Cody Morgan

Edit looks ready to win here in The Kosciuzko. He won by two lengths first up over 1200m, has finished in the top two in all four of his runs at the distance and has won on a rain affected track before. He has drawn wide but is a backmarker and just needs to find a back to peel off in the straight, which Hugh Bowman is more than capable of doing. 

8. Ice In Vancouver (12) – $26
Jockey – Tim Clark
Trainer – Cody Morgan

The lightly run Ice In Vancouver could make a bit of a splash here at odds. Has been kept fresh for this intentionally, as he is 2/2 when first up from a spell. He has had two runs on soft tracks and won one of those, and at $26/$8, looks a blowout chance for the exotics. 

9. Island Bay Boy (10) – $23
Jockey – Jason Collett
Trainer – Tony Sergi

Island Bay Boy is one of the only runners that has won on both soft AND heavy tracks, meaning he should be able to handle whatever Randwick has to throw at him. Jason Collett is a great booking and given he is eight weeks between runs, with some trials in there, and has won first up previously, he could cause an upset. 

10. Nadaraja (2) – $11
Jockey – Matthew Palmer
Trainer – Stephen Jones

With only four career runs, Nadaraja is the x-factor runner. He has three wins and a second but has never raced at 1200m before. However, he does have a win on a heavy track and given his three career wins have been by a combined 9.6 lengths, the three-year-old gelding has to be respected. 

11. Mr Hussill (6) – $19
Jockey – Regan Bayliss
Trainer – Cameron Crockett

Another horse with exceptional form, Mr Hussill is yet to miss the placings from six career starts, winning three of them. He has won at the distance, won on a heavy track and has been kept fresh for this, given his 3:2-0-1 first up record. Regan Bayliss is in-form, given his two Group One wins in the Epsom Handicap and Flight Stakes this month. 

12. Ceasefire (13) – $26
Jockey – Robbie Dolan
Trainer – Paul Messara

Ceasefire has three wins from four starts but his only miss was at 1200m. He has been kept fresh for this race, which is when he does his best work, but may be found out at the distance. 

13. Patino Ruby (5) – $16
Jockey – Alysha Collett
Trainer – Brett Cavanough

Comes from the winning camp from last year’s Kosciuszko and is coming into this off just one run since June, a fourth in a 1100m BM78 at the start of September. Patino Ruby has trialed well since then in the lead up to this and performs best with some give in the turf, which she will clearly get here. 

14. Sunrise Ruby (4) – $15
Jockey – Glen Boss
Trainer – Mitchell Beer

Another Ruby, this time Sunrise Ruby from the Mitchell Beer camp with Group One Glen Boss on board. She has exceptional form on heavy tracks, 4:3-1-0, and is 4/4 at the distance, indicating she should be right in this from the low draw. 

15e. Irish Songs (14) – $41
Jockey –
Trainer – Kurt Goldman

With the scratching of Front Page, Irish Songs sees himself in the 2021 Kosciuszko! He is on a relatively quick backup, racing last Wednesday (6/10), coming third in a 1300m BM78. He does drop back to 1200m, where his best form is, and he has performed well on all track surfaces. 

16e. Another One (15)
Jockey –
Trainer – Gary Colvin

While he hasn’t had the best lead up, coming 3rd and 6th with space between runs, Another One is 1/1 third up and hasn’t missed the place from three runs on soft. He just needs to find a way into the race. 

17e. Tim’s Principal (16)
Jockey –
Trainer – Jeremy Gask

An exceptionally named horse, Tim’s Principal needs luck to get in here, being the second emergency at the time of writing. He is one of the more experienced horses in the field, if he makes it, but has performed well at the distance and on soft tracks previously. 

18e. Kattegat (17)
Jockey –
Trainer – Natalie Jarvis

Being the third emergency, after starting as the fourth emergency, Kattegat will need luck to get into the race and even if he does, he may not drouble them. 1200m is his pet distance and his best form is on soft tracks, but this is a class above. 

Final Word

Does the market have this right, given the four main fancies are all priced between $4.40 and $7? While the race is only three years old, there is yet to be a horse win the race twice, meaning Handle The Truth would be making history. What is working in his favour is the fact that the three previous favourites of the race are yet to miss the top four, with Victorem finishing second in 2019 and It’s Me winning last year. 

Four-year-olds have won two of the three runnings of The Kosciuszko, but all four of the main market fancies are older than that, so is it a case of the best horse wins regardless of factors and conditions or is the market missing something?

Sportsbet CC & Everest Offer

Sunrise Ruby at $15, out of the Mitchell Beer camp, looks to be the most well-placed runner outside of the top four in the market. She is undefeated at the distance, has drawn well with barrier four and has form on heavy tracks, indicating she could be a blowout chance. She also has the services of Glen Boss, who is known to be a big race rider. Given her racing history and the fact that she is running with the limit weight in this race, she is well over the odds and we are happy to tuck in at each-way odds, especially when Sportsbet are offering a bonus back to fifth place. 

Best The Kosciuszko Tip: Sunrise Ruby – Each/Way ($15/$4.40)

Don’t stop here, there is plenty of feature racing happening around the country this weekend! If you want to check out our Runner-By-Runner analysis of The Everest, click here! If you want a preview of Melbourne’s Group One, the Caulfield Cup, click here. 

If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our The Kosciuszko page for all your punting needs!

*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Sportsbet.