The owners of O’ So Hazy live in hope she can push her bid for a start in The Kosciuszko by winning first-up at Wagga on Thursday.
O’ So Hazy is in contention for a start in the inaugural running of the $1.3million race at Randwick on October 13 providing she keeps winning and winning well to gain the attention of the public.
It all starts on Thursday in the Riverina Crane Services Sprint over 1200 metres at a track where O’ So Hazy excels.
Trainer Scott Spackman said it was now up to O’ So Hazy to deliver and follow up from her strong form lines from last campaign which included a third in the Country Championships final at Randwick.
“She never really lets me down and she has won four of her five runs at Wagga and has just been named horse of the year there,” Spackman said.
“She had a jump out last week and did it very well.
“We have to put ourselves out there to try and get a spot in The Kosciuszko because she will only have this run and maybe one other before then.”
O’ So Hazy is the only locally trained horse in the market for The Kosciuszko at $26, but is down the likely running order.
Brooke Sweeney gives O' So Hazy a well-deserved pat after their Country Championships heat win. Credit: Kylie Shaw - Trackpix Racing Photography.
That could change if she can put together some wins to show she is worthy of a spot.
Spackman said the break from racing had helped O’ So Hazy who had basically come through to race at a high level in one campaign.
“She ran second in the Albury City Hcp, fourth in the Town Plate and won the SDRA Country Championship qualifier before running third in Sydney,” he said.
“She beat nothing in the jump out, but it was the way she did it that showed me she is going well.
Spackman’s main concern is her big weight of 60 kilograms as the highest weight she has carried previously is 57 kilograms.
“That is the worry. She has drawn out wide, but that will allow her to get into a rhythm and not be bustled,” he said.
“How she goes with the extra weight is the unknown.
“Whatever she does she will improve on, but I expect her to run well.”
Already the winner of $200,000 from 13 starts, O’ So Hazy will be ridden by regular jockey Brooke Sweeney from barrier seven.
The interesting runner is top weight Spunlago who is a last stat Moonee Valley winner in August of last year.
View the fields and form (including race replays) for Thursday's Wagga meeting here.