Country Championships Final winner Asgarda completes field for The Kosciuszko
A mare back in form has a shot at a rare double after filling the final slot in the $2m The Kosciuszko.
Asgarda, winner of the Country Championships Final earlier this year, has secured the final slot in the $2m The Kosciuszko.
The Doug Gorrel-trained Asgarda showed with her first-up win shouldering 62kg at Wagga Wagga two weeks ago that she returned in top form and deserved her place in The Kosciuszko (1200m), run on Everest day at Royal Randwick on October 19.
• Richard Callander: Should Linebacker have run in the Golden Rose?
She is now attempting to complete the lucrative Country Championship Final-The Kosciuszko double that has been achieved only once previously by Art Cadeau in 2021.
Asgarda’s inclusion completes the 14-horse field for The Kosciuszko which has assembled the strongest field in the race’s history.
This is reflected in early TAB fixed odds betting where Asgarda is rated only at generous odds of $26 behind $2.80 favourite Front Page who is attempting a third consecutive win in The Kosciuszko.
■ Mr Brightside has been ruled out of starting in the Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick on Everest Day.
Ben Hayes, who trains in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, confirmed on Monday that Mr Brightside is likely to remain in Melbourne and concentrate on the Group 1 $5m Cox Plate (2040) at The Valley October 26.
Hayes indicated Mr Brightside’s final lead-up run will be in the Group 1 $1m Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on October 12.
• Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Pride eyes second Epsom Handicap
Mr Brightside ran second in both the King Charles III Stakes and Cox Plate last year but with those races separated by only a week this spring, Hayes said the decision was made to run in the Might And Power instead.
Pride Of Jenni, who defeated Mr Brightside in the Feehan Stakes at The Valley last Friday night, is the $2.30 favourite for the King Charles ahead of last year’s winner Fangirl at $3.
■ The first two-year-old races of the season, the Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes, both 1000m Group 3 races with $250,000 prizemoney, will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
There are 12 colts nominated for the Breeders Plate with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained North England early favourite at $3.50 after his impressive win at the official two-year-old barrier trials at Kensington.
In the Gimcrack Stakes, 20 fillies have been entered with the Ciaron Maher-trained Icarian Dream early favourite at $3.50.
Originally published as Country Championships Final winner Asgarda completes field for The Kosciuszko
Sargent buoyed by Sea’s Group 1 potential
With one eye on Group 1 goals later this spring, trainer John Sargent is expecting China Sea to lay down a marker in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Dulcify Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
Rain only concern for Moody filly at Flemington
Talented filly Eneeza has one box left to tick this spring when she begins her campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Randwick Turf Talk for Saturday: Mitch’s moral ‘just wins’
Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, where Mitch has a moral on a day featuring three Group 1s and a Premiere sprint.