Alpinism (art of climbing tall mountains) is all the rage right now as the countdown to this week’s winning draw for the $2m The Kosciuszko gets serious.
Ticket holders are spoilt for choice state wide but could just as easily find clarity in what Goulburn trainers have to offer.
Prospective ticket holders have the forewarned is forearmed option about the thoroughbred talent and nous housed over the tablelands.
The likes of Matt Dale, Scott Collings and Danny Williams have a number of ‘made for mountaineering’ types up and racing that could take a ticket holder all the way to the top of the $2m Kosciuszko mountain.
Dale had three runners in last year’s race including runner-up Front Page. His recent mid-winter musings on the stable’s mind-set for The Kosciuszko and the arsenal he has available have been echoed in early markets with Front Page ($4.00F) and Boston Rocks ($8.00) both tight in TAB pre-race framing.
“We’ll have Front Page again targeting the race. He is being set for a Kosciuszko tilt first up,” Dale said last month.
“Boston Rocks is another horse I’ve had set for the race after winning two races impressively in Sydney and Melbourne at the end of last preparation.”
Boston Rocks impressed with a top three result first up at Moonee Valley three weeks ago in a Benchmark 100 rated race. The son of Hellbent also looked super sound in mind and body when winning a trial at Kembla Grange recently in sharp time.
Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock who bred and part owns Boston Rocks gave an insight into what a race like The Kosciuszko can offer a racing partnership.
“If Boston Rocks was to gain a slot in this year’s The Kosciuszko it would be fantastic for both Kurrinda Bloodstock and M J Dale Racing,” Mr. Driver said.
“The horse is a proven metropolitan performer, a winner of four metro benchmark races to date and we feel he has come back that bit better again.”
“It’s a great concept for country horses to gain maximum prize money.”
Danny Williams had two runners in last year’s race in Bandi’s Boy and Kreon. Bandi’s Boy ($15 TAB) is a proven Group 3 performer with Williams recently telling Racing NSW.
“We’re now training him differently and he’s thriving; fewer fast gallops and more pace work and he’s enjoying himself.”
Scott Collings is no stranger to readying a horse for a big stage assignment at headquarters after securing final slots in both The Country Championships and The Kosciuszko in recent years.
He remains bullish about Ticklebelly ($26 TAB) the 2024 Southern Wildcard winner with a career strike rate of thirty three percent.
“She’s a versatile mare proven at Royal Randwick. A tough on-pace horse who handles all track conditions,” Collings recently highlighted.
Collings says he also has some handy back up ammunition with the likes of Extravagent Lad and Mogo Magic well in the firing line.
“Extravagent Lad has become King of Country Cup Day Sprints. He won the Tucker Box on Snake Gully Cup Day at Gundagai, The Thunderbolt at Queanbeyan on Queanbeyan Cup Day and the Orange Cup Day Sprint.”
“He’s been placed twice in city grade of recent times and has a top three strike rate of almost seventy percent across his career.”
“Mogo Magic is a five-time winner and got a taste of The Kosciuszko in 2023.”
He’s been close up in TAB Federals at Canberra in recent runs and remains a lightly raced proposition.
Other tablelands tutors such as Danielle Seib (four winners in the past month) and Tash Burleigh (two-time Goulburn Cup winner) also add credibility to the Alpinism residing up Goulburn way for potential The Kosciuszko ticket holders.
The $2 million The Kosciuszko will be run over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 18.
Goulburn Soldiers Club & Goulburn Australia are proud supporters of Goulburn & District Racing Club
