With TAB Everest Day just around the corner there’s plenty of work still be done but credit where credit’s due with the news that Goulburn now has five of the final 14 runners in the $2m The Kosciuszko at Royal Randwick on October 19.
It’s a ‘fab five’ that could potentially translate to the ultimate ‘high five’ for one of The Kosciuszko’s winning ticket holders.
The tablelands quintet consists of Front Page, Cavalier Charles and Martini Mumma (Matthew Dale) alongside neighbours Kreon and Bandi’s Boy (Danny Williams).
That makes ‘five for the drive’ down the Hume to mount Goulburn’s assault on a peak that has $1m on offer for first to the summit.
A few form-related facts and footnotes on the Goulburn five make for good reading.
Front Page: Lightly raced eight-year-old and defending champion. A first-up genius with a record of 9:5-1-1 when arriving back at work from a break. Has maintained a winning strike rate of almost 30% across a 24-start career. TAB $2.80 favourite
Cavalier Charles: Four-time winner at The Kosciuszko trip of 1200m. Versatile galloper with a winning strike rate of 1 in 4 races. Has earned top four funds for savvy ticket holders in the 2022 and 2023 editions of The Kosciuszko. TAB $34
Martini Mumma: Sired by Pariah but has been brought into The Kosciuszko fold late in negotiations. Selected by a city slot holder who’s gone bush in the hope of riches. Goes into The Kosciuszko third-up from a spell. TAB $34
Bandi’s Boy: Three of his five wins have come at Randwick and had Group 3 winning form in the autumn (defeating recent Group 2-Premiere Stakes winner Airman in the process). Has won races in all conditions. Resume makes for easy translation to being a genuine threat. TAB $13
Kreon: Exciting grey which comes into The Kosciuszko with early career wraps. Breeding is more Mount Fuji (Jpn) than Kosciuszko but looks on an upward spiral. Making all the right moves in everything he’s shown to date. TAB $26
And whilst there’s a melting pot of horses, trainers, owners and slot holders amongst the five Kosciuszko focused camps, according to Goulburn Race Club's CEO Robyn Fife, there’s definitely a ‘team Goulburn’ feel to it all 10 days out from the race.
“To have five runners selected in the final field for The Kosciuszko is a great ‘base camp’ result for both the Matthew Dale and Danny Williams stables,” Ms Fife offered.
“To have such a high level of involvement from the tablelands in one of the feature races on TAB Everest Day also does wonders for the profile of our sport back here at home.”
“Congratulations to connections of the five horses and the winning ticket holders on securing entry into the $2 million race. On behalf of Goulburn District Race Club we wish them all the very best.”
Punters will get a chance to see one of the Goulburn Kosciuszko quintet, Kreon ($17 on TAB) step out at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday in the last on the card, the Rosehill Bowling Club Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1100m.