Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Country Championships hero Know Thyself will jump straight back into stakes racing by being set for next month’s Scone Cup after his fighting win in the $1 million feature at Randwick.

In a close finish, jockey Aaron Bullock got everything out of the four-year-old as he reeled in Lisztomania to score by a short half head with 1-1/4 lengths back to Fukubana in third.

Messara, who co-trains with Leah Gavranich, had some concerns about staying at 1400m in the Evergreen Turf Country Championships Final after winning the Wild Card on his home track on heavy ground so it’s no surprise he’ll now step the gelding up in distance.

Aaron Bullock celebrates his Country Championships Final win on Know Thyself (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“It seems a little bit selfish but I was thinking the Scone Cup might be a good one to go for,’’ Messara said.

“Just down the road, we don’t have to travel or worry about any of that. So a Listed race at Scone, I think the Scone Cup would be a nice transition race for him.”

Know Thyself had long been Messara and Gavranich’s major Country Championships contender, given their chase for black type with blueblooded mare Clear Thinking, and he said it was particularly satisfying for his co-trainer as much as himself.

At the end of his three-year-old season he ran third in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) and missed the spring to be sent on the Championships path.

“This is a plan that we laid down a long time ago. They often don’t come off, so lovely to see it happy today,’’ he said.

“Delighted for our team, especially Leah who rides him every day, who is my training partner.

“She treats this horse like a labrador. She’s there hand-feeding him all the time, so really happy for her and the whole team, and the Ladbrokes team who have been a great supporter of the stable and probably this is maybe the biggest win to date.

“So fabulous for their team, and I couldn’t be happier.”

For Bullock a win in the Country Championships Final is something he’s long coveted and the fact he worked hard to ride at 56.5kg speaks volumes about his view of Know Thyself.

The win clearly meant a lot to Bullock who said it rates higher than winning the national jockeys premiership a couple of years ago.

“I wouldn’t be here on these horses if it wasn’t for John and Paul (Messara),’’ Bullock said.

“They’ve had confidence in me here today to come and let me ride him half (a kilogram) over. I don’t ride these weights often.

“It was all worth it. It’s just good to get the win. I’ve got 12 Qualifying trophies at home, so now I can finally add a Finals one to the trophy cabinet. Very happy.”

It’s the third time a Wild Card victor has won the Country Championships Final following Artlee in the inaugural year and Noble Boy in 2019.

Check out the replays and results from Day 1 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick>/big>