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By Greg Prichard

Nothing but quotes from the trainers of every runner in Saturday's $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

1. BANDI’S BOY (Danny Williams, Goulburn): “He’s exactly where I want him to be. He missed a run, so we needed to find another race for him and we did that and now his fitness levels are where they need to be after we were chasing our tail a bit with him early in the campaign. I expect there will be good improvement from him coming off his last run and he’ll appreciate the little bit of give in the ground as well.”

2. FAR TOO EASY (David McColm, Murwillumbah): “We’ve settled in well at Rosehill. He travelled down well and I’m happy with him, so it’s all systems go. Craig Williams came up to ride him in his last trial and was really happy with him. He’s the sort of jockey you need to handle the challenge of coming out of barrier one and not get locked in. He’ll be ridden a few lengths closer this time and go from there.”

Matthew Dale (Pic: Bradley Photos).

3. FRONT PAGE (Matt Dale, Goulburn): “Hasn’t missed a beat. Going every bit as good as last year into the race and we’re really happy with him. His last trial was as good as he’s ever trialled and he’s come on from that. Then he had his last gallop on Tuesday and he’s bounced through that well. His self-belief, his action, I like what I see in all of the key areas. So he’s ticked all the boxes and he’s ready to go again on Saturday.”

4. AT WITZ END (Daniel Bowen, Lismore): “We were planning to have two race starts instead of just the one going into Saturday, but he wasn’t quite ready for that. But after his run at Toowoomba we were able to run him in a trial and he won that and the run brought him along a bit more and he’s worked well since and he should run a good race. He’s finally drawn a decent barrier (four) and that will help him a lot.”

5. BOOM TORQUE (Matt Dunn, Murwillumbah): “I would’ve preferred he’d drawn a bit wider than two because he’s a little better on the outside of other horses, but still I wouldn’t want to swap two for 12 or something like that. I’m sure Nash (Rawiller) will work all that out. His preparation’s been faultless, including a terrific run in a Group Two race in Sydney. I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s ready to run well.”

6. ELSON BOY (Dar Lunn, Dubbo): “We’re staying out at Luddenham for a couple of days ahead of the race and it’s only an hour from here to Randwick. Everything’s fine, I’m really pleased with the horse, he’s fit and well. I was really happy with his last-start run at Randwick, after a bit of a let-up. They ran really good time and he ran right through the line in a good-class race. He’ll be close-up in the run. He’s a real live chance.”

7. CAVALIER CHARLES (Matt Dale, Goulburn): “He’s ticked over well since his last run. I think he’s arriving at the race very much in line with his performances in the last two Kosciuszkos, when he ran fourth each time, and sets up to run a similar race. From barrier three he’ll get a pretty conservative run off a genuine rolling tempo and be working solidly to the line. I think he’s a real top-five chance.”

8. COMPELLING TRUTH (Mack Griffith, Mudgee): “A bit of rain about doesn’t hurt us at all. A wet track might slow a few of the others down and help us out. He’ll go forward from barrier 13 and if there’s too much speed he’ll just try and pop in behind them. He doesn’t have to lead, he can come off the speed as he did in his last-start win. He’s been to the races a few times this preparation so he’s very fit and ready to go.”

9. ASGARDA (Doug Gorrel, Wagga Wagga): “We arrived in Sydney on Thursday and she has settled in straight away. She’s in the same box at Craig Carmody’s stable at Randwick that she was in when she won the Country Championships Final and everything’s good. I can’t fault her prep and the wide gate (12) doesn’t overly worry me. A bit of rain about helps, but she’s not just a wet-tracker, she’s fine on any surface.”

10. TRIBECA STAR (Matt Dunn, Murwillumbah): “He’s perfect and the track should be perfect for him as well, with a bit of the sting out of it. He’s had two trials and three race starts so he’s very fit, his preparation’s been really good. He’s best ridden a bit conservatively and produced late with his short, sharp turn of foot and I’m sure Blake (Shinn) will be aware of that. He’s ready to run a good race.”

Trainer Brett Robb (Pic: Grant Guy)

11. GALLANT STAR (Brett Robb, Dubbo): “He’s the best I’ve ever had the horse, to be honest. He’s come back this campaign a lot sharper and just a better horse. We did a bit of work with his feet while he was out spelling. He had an issue there and he was hitting flat spots in his races because of that, but it’s gone now. He’s thrived since his first-up run when he won really well at Dubbo. I’m really excited about this race with him.”

12. TANGLEWOOD (Todd Howlett, Muswellbrook): “Very happy with him. He’s plenty fit enough We’ve been able to shape the last two months exactly as we wanted to, with a trial at the start and then two race starts and another trial. His win on the Kensington track was good and he finished off very well at Rosehill last start. He’s running time, he’s fit and well and the jockey (Josh Parr) has a great understanding with him.”

13. KREON (Danny Williams, Goulburn): “He’s going to run over more distance eventually, but we’ve kept him sharp for the 1200 metres of this race. He raced last Saturday and has bounced out of that fantastic. I’m over the moon with the way he’s come through towards the quick back-up and the beauty about both of my horses in the race is that they’ve had a bit of hard racing to get them there. They’re rock-hard fit.”

14. MARTINI MUMMA (Matt Dale, Goulburn): “She was ridden too conservatively last start in a race that was won from the front and never got a chance to get into the race early, but her closing sectionals were good. She has got an awkward draw (barrier 11) to contend with, but hopefully she can slot across there somewhere into a comfortable position around midfield and with her light weight be hitting the line well.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick