Kosciuszko Top Five
Published: 16 Oct 2021
Country horse with city form - Handle The Truth is the horse to beat in the Kosciuszko today
The Kosciuszko brings country-trained horses together from across the state in search of a big prize and it's always a great betting race. Race analyst Adrian Sciglitano has narrowed down an open field to five potential betting prospects.
HANDLE THE TRUTH and PATINO RUBY are the early plays.
HANDLE THE TRUTH
6yo Bay or Brown gelding | STAR WITNESS x ASSERTIVELY
The 2019 Kosciuszko winner lines up again for his third start in the $1.3 million feature and he looks to be trained to the minute by Keith Dryden. The now six-year-old gelding from Canberra brings the best form into this year’s Kosciuszko after two strong efforts in the Concorde Stakes first-up, before running on against the bias second-up in The Shorts at Randwick, only finishing only one length behind Everest hopeful Masked Crusader. He peaks here third-up from a spell on Saturday and maps to get the run of the race from the inside gate with regular jockey Nash Rawiller sticking with the gelding. Coming into this year’s feature in career best form as well as being well placed at the set weights plus penalties conditions of the race, ensures he will be right in the finish again.
Adrian's price: $3.80
ART CADEAU
5yo Bay gelding | ARTIE SCHILLER (USA) x JEWELLED
The consistent galloper from the Robinson stable has never finished worse than second in eleven career starts and will tackle the Kosciuszko first-up on Saturday. The now 5yo gelding hasn’t been seen since scoring an all the way win over 1,400 metres in the Country Championships Final, however brings a strong first-up record into the race (3:1:2:0) deliberately left fresh knowing he will run a strong 1,200 metres. With four out of five career wins coming on soft ground, the conditions on Saturday will play right into Art Cadeau’s hands when he reunites with regular jockey Tommy Berry. He is a winner at 1,200 metres and maps to get a perfect run from the inside draw, but I need a better price before having a bet.
Adrian's price: $8.00
EDIT
5yo Bay gelding | SWISS ACE x EDIE
The “X Factor” in this year’s Kosciuszko is lightly raced Kiwi gelding Edit, now trained under the watchful eye of Cody Morgan. The five-year old gelding returned in devastating fashion in his first Australian start coming from last to storm past his rivals over 1,200 metres at Tamworth. A strong finisher in New Zealand, Edit looks suited getting to the spacious stretches of Randwick when he lines up on Saturday, as well as finding a race with good early speed. Hugh Bowman partners the explosive galloper on Saturday who could be risky on a wet track having such a sharp acceleration. From the draw, expect him to drift back and if the track is holding up and suiting those swooping down the middle I might be betting late.
Adrian's price: $5.50
PATINO RUBY
4yo Brown mare | MORE THAN READY (USA) x COMMANDING JEWEL
Brett Cavanough knows what it takes to win a $1.3 million Kosciuszko having won the race with lightly raced mare It’s Me twelve months ago. This year, he will line up with four-year old mare Patino ruby as she looks to climb the mountain. She has only had seven race starts winning on three occasions, indicating she has upside to come in her career. First-up this preparation she closed off behind Selburose in a Benchmark 78 at Randwick, only beaten 2.43 lengths into fourth place. She has since been seen at the trials where she ran on strongly from just behind the pace, suggesting she is tuned right up for her assignment. In her favour on Saturday are the conditions, a short coupled mare with a light hind quarter has won all her races on soft ground, revelling in the conditions at Rosehill in June. Alysha Collett takes the ride on the mare, she gets in with 53.5kg and can cause the upset mapping perfectly from barrier 5.
Adrian's price: $11.00
SUNRISE RUBY
4yo Bay mare | CASINO PRINCE x SCARLETTA
Albury trainer Mitchell Beer will be looking to go one better in this year’s Kosciusko when he saddles up lightly raced mare Sunrise Ruby. The daughter of Casino Prince in only her second racing preparation put herself on the radar with a strong highway win at Randwick in late July over 1,200 metres. Drifting back from the wide gate on that occasion, she was able to pick her way through the field and storm past her rivals including Mr Hussil who she will face again in this year’s Kosciusko. Last start she showed her versatility when stepping up to the 1,250 metres settling near pace, before running on well behind Calgary Queen. Although not suited at the weights for this year’s feature, she has drawn perfectly in gate four to get a nice run on the map, she handles wet ground and will be sure to put herself into the picture with a furlong to go.
Adrian's price: $17
Click here for The Kosciusko Race Guide