Tim Clark locked in to ride Mudgee flyer Compelling Truth in The Kosciuszko

Mudgie flyer Compelling Truth ticked another box in his bid for a Kosciuszko slot but connections have already secured a rider.

Connections of Compelling Truth are chasing a spot in The Kosciuszko. Picture: Bradley Photos

Tim Clark has been locked in to ride Mudgee flyer Compelling Truth if and when the Gooree-bred gelding gets the call up for the $2m ATC Kosciuszko (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.

The Mack Griffith-trained son of I Am Invincible ticked off the 1200m box in no uncertain terms with his win at Doomben last Saturday, running a slick 1:09.35 with a blistering 33.54sec last 600m.

• Glamour mare primed to take on Amelia’s Jewel

“One of the owners went through all the stats and he said it was the second fastest last 600m in all of Australia on Saturday,’’ Griffith told Racenet.

“The only horse that ran a faster last 600m was Storm Boy so that proves Compelling Truth is still strong at the end of 1200m.

“I always thought he would get 1200m, maybe even 1300m down the track, but we started him in those shorter races because they were the best races available at the time.

“If there was a better 1200m, we would have started him over that distance sooner, but there just wasn’t one available for him.’’

Is #TheKosciuszko on the cards for Compelling Truth? He has to be considered after that smart all-the-way win at Doomben. Nice ride from in-form apprentice Bailey Wheeler. pic.twitter.com/jthuxUYQsX

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 31, 2024

Pace and (sustained) speed have been the decisive factors in Compelling Truth’s eight wins from his 16 starts.

“Everyone who rides him or rides against him can’t believe how he can go so fast and still have a good strong kick,’’ Griffith said.

“He is a big, strong horse. He carried 64kg one day at Dubbo and nearly broke the track record there.

“Even at Tamworth in a sprint one day he ran 55.5sec and that’s low flying. He can still run quick times out to 1200m.’’

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Despite Compelling Truth’s obvious talent and upward trajectory, it’s only recently that Griffith contemplated country racing’s version of The Everest

“You can dare to dream, but it seemed too far away and you’re never going to get there but with every start the dream gets closer,’’ he said.

“We have a bit of interest already. A gentleman rang us yesterday (Tuesday) and said he was very keen but we’ve just to sit back and wait and see who gets drawn and go from there.

“He has won in the Central West, he has won over in the Northern Rivers at Grafton and he’s won in Brisbane, he has won far and wide so he is pretty well known.’’

Front Page is chasing three straight Kosciuszko wins. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

And while the slot-holders won’t be known until the draw takes place on September 11, Griffith is charting the best possible course for Compelling Truth to peak on the big day.

“All his best runs are with three to four weeks break,’’ Griffith explained.

“So he’ll have one more run before The Kosciusko over 1300m to give one good, tough run

and then he will go four weeks to The Kosciuszko.

“It’s been proven in the past that four weeks is his sweet spot between each run.’’

That 1300m race will come at Bathurst in the $110,000 The Panorama on Sunday, September 15.

Originally published as Tim Clark locked in to ride Mudgee flyer Compelling Truth in The Kosciuszko