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By Greg Prichard

Acclaimed actor and The Kosciuszko slot-holder John Howard was inspired to choose Gallant Star to run for him after seeing the horse’s part-owner Kerry O’Keeffe in a Sky Racing video promising a great experience for any slot-holder who picked the horse.

Actor and Kosciuszko slot winner John Howard.

But the veteran star, popular for his roles in multiple TV series including SeaChange and All Saints and movies such as The Club and the Mad Max franchise, made sure he did the form first as well because he’s been a racing fan all his life.

“I used to live at Randwick and I was going to the Uni of NSW,” Howard said. “But on a Wednesday I wasn’t where I should’ve been. I’d be across the road at the races. The temptation was too great, I’m afraid.

“I’ve always been a punter. Only small-time. I’d always take on Octagonal when I was at the races and having a bet, how silly was I!

“But I just love watching the racing. I watch all of the videos on the horses in The Kosciuszko and the other big races because I find it very interesting.

“I thought the video Kerry O’Keeffe did was fantastic. It was a great advertisement for The Kosciuszko. The concept of the race is a brilliant idea. It’s especially good for country trainers, of course, but good for racing overall.

“All of those videos are a great help for people who aren’t necessarily in the know. You need to see those videos about the people who are involved with the horses.

“There’s always a story behind the horse and the people involved and every time it’s a different story. I watch a lot of documentaries about horses too.

“I love the stories about the people behind the scenes. I watched the NSW Racing Awards and they gave a strapper a gong - they don’t do that sort of caper at the Logies, I can tell you!

“I wouldn’t have thought about taking Gallant Star unless I’d seen that video with Kerry in it. I didn’t know Gallant Star from a bar of soap, really, but it pricked my ears and I went and looked at its races.

“I ended up doing my research on all of the horses in The Kosciuszko - not because I was counting on winning a slot, but because I just love doing it - and Gallant Star had terrific form and really appealed to me as a racehorse.

“I’ve got a real soft spot for horses that can come from behind and The Kosciuszko is at Randwick and Gallant Star has won a Class 3 TAB Highway there and he can handle wet or dry.

“He’s also got good form over 1400 metres and you need that to be able to run a strong 1200 at Randwick. He’s a very consistent and adaptable horse.”

The $2 million The Kosciuszko, for country-trained horses, will be run on TAB Everest day, October 19.

Most of the 14 lucky slot-holders, who bought tickets in the sweepstakes draw, have picked their runners, but there are still a few slots to be filled.

In the video, O’Keeffe, the popular and quirky cricket commentator and former Test player, promised any slot-holder who chose Gallant Star a big day out with him at the races and then a big night out at a fashionable restaurant - win, lose or draw.

Howard, who lives at Manly, bought 20 tickets in the draw for $100 using the TAB app.

“I watch a bit of Sky Racing every day,” he said.

David Ringland, Brett Robb, David's wife Heather, Kerry O'Keeffe, Shannon Llewellyn (Robb stable apprentice) after Gallant Star won at Randwick on December

“I’ll know more about ‘Gal’ after he runs at Dubbo in a couple of weeks. I’ll be there. I’ve got to meet the animal and get into its mind and convince it to be in the right mood for The Kosciuszko.

“I’ve spoken to (trainer) Brett Robb and (part-owner) David Ringland. They were together when I rang to get the horse. We did a deal in about 30 seconds.

“I haven’t met Kerry yet, but I got a nice message from him welcoming me on-board and no doubt I’ll catch up with him soon. Maybe at Dubbo.

“He was a bloody good cricketer and he’s a very entertaining commentator. I don’t watch a lot of cricket these days, but when I do and he’s commentating I love the way he does it. He’s very amusing, but he’s got a serious side too.

“I’m planning to take my friend Sophie Gralton to The Kosciuszko. She’s a well-known artist and I’ve been educating her about racing.

“She doesn’t know much about it, apart from being able to boast she went to Royal Ascot once! I took her to see the Winx movie and she really enjoyed it.

“Sophie’s daughter, Isadora McLeay, is a professional athlete who plays in the AFLW and she wants to come along too because she’s a huge fan of Kerry O’Keeffe’s.

“I haven’t asked Kerry which restaurant we’re going to yet. He’ll have to produce a good one - he’s promised it enough!”

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