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By Ray Hickson

It’s no surprise a race like The Kosciuszko enters the discussion about any talented country galloper and trainer Terry Evans is hoping Sir Ravanelli can lay the groundwork for a bid at the $2 million race in 2024 with a strong performance at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Terry Evans.

While the next edition of the sought after feature race is still 10 months away, the Tuncurry trainer says Sir Ravanelli has reached a point in his career where he’s carrying big weights in the country so needs to find out if he’s a city grade galloper.

And if he can bring his best into the TAB Handicap (1300m) he’ll then have something to work with.

“Just looking at him I think he can win one or two of those races but you need luck on your side when you go to the big smoke,’’ Evans said.

“We can’t go to the Championships any more so we have to try and make the next step with him.

“We had one little bit of interest in the Kosciuszko this year, I thought he might have gone pretty well, but hopefully next year.”

Of course a huge part of gaining a start in The Kosciuszko comes down to who draws the sweepstakes tickets but a proven, city class, performer is always attractive to the slot holders.

Sir Ravanelli won the Mid North Coast Country Championships (1400m) on his home track earlier this year before finishing 12th in the Final on a heavy track.

The grey, $11 with TAB on Thursday, has returned to his best this preparation with successive Grafton wins over sprint trips but was denied a hat-trick when runner-up under 62kg at the same track almost a month ago.

Evans said in an ideal world jockey Darryl McLellan might have got going a bit sooner but feels he’s looking for the 1300m again with some give in the track.

“I think he let them dictate a little too much in front and just got a length out of his ground,’’ he said.

“Another few strides and I think he wins but it was only 1200m. I’m not saying it was jockey fault or the horse’s fault but he had the weight as well.

“He’s drawn a good gate so we can go forward and without leading be up on the pace a bit.

“He’s going as well as we can have him at this time of his preparation and we’ll see how he aims up. He’ll give it a shake I think.”

Amalfi Amore joins Sir Ravanelli on the float to Randwick and, while he’s an outsider in the TAB Highway (1600m), Evans said he could give a bit of cheek.

The five-year-old is still new to the stable having raced three times since being purchased online, for two seconds, and the trainer is forgiving of his home track failure just over a week ago when coming back in distance.

Sir Ravanelli runs second at Grafton on November 26

“He’s going down as a mate for the other guy but he’s not useless,’’ he said.

“His run at Grafton was terrific over a mile and we had to run him at Tuncurry to qualify him for the country and Highway races.

“He’s a tough little horse and doesn’t give up. I think 1600m is his go and we’ll have a throw at the stumps.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting