Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Terry Evans and connections of Sir Ravanelli have had their hearts set on contesting the $2 million The Kosciuszko basically since the last edition of the race so they know everything is on the line at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Terry Evans.

The grey, winner of the MNCRA Country Championships last year, is a noted wet track performer and Evans said he has the right platform to give the remaining slot holders something to think about in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m).

Evans has been campaigning strongly for a slot in The Kosciuszko, and his syndicate bought a good number of tickets hoping to win a place in their own right rather than having to audition.

“It’s been the plan since last year and we’ve headed that way the whole year with it in mind,’’ Evans said.

“This was the race we were always going to run in but we were hopeful to get a spot before.

“We know he can get the distance and would be suited at Randwick. It’d be lovely to get in but if we don’t there’s other races around.”

The seven-year-old has been a consistent performer, winning eight of 24 starts to date, and was a metropolitan winner at Newcastle in May before running fourth behind Elson Boy at Rosehill on June 15.

He’s been kept on the fresh side since finishing eighth behind Briasa off the outside gate four weeks ago. Evans said he likes how Saturday’s race appears to set up for Sir Ravanelli with the prospect of a soft track and a draw off the fence in the final race.

“We’ve tried to keep him fresh and ready to go, he’s won over 1100m but 1200m is probably more his go,’’ he said.

“But a rain affected track brings him back into commission. He’s been ticking over doing trot and canter work, a couple of strong-ish gallops, keeping him fresh.

“We’ve been playing it by ear, treading water, to see what happened.

“You probably won’t want to be on the inside, he can just take his time and Digger (Darryl McLellan) can put him where he’s happy and then hopefully get to the outside and run home.

“If there is a bit more rain that won’t worry him either.”

The Tuncurry trainer said the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m), another race exclusively for country trained horses, at Randwick on November 5 is another target regardless of whether he gains a Kosciuszko start.

As at Wednesday there were still two ticket winners who had yet to select a horse. Sir Ravanelli is on the $26 line in TAB's pre-noms market.

Stablemate The Young Years will join Sir Ravanelli on the float to make her city debut in the TAB Highway (1500m).

Sir Ravanelli wins at Newcastle in May

The five-year-old mare is also comfortable on soft tracks and Evans said her recent form, including a Taree win two starts ago and a last start second at home, warranted the shot at a $120,000 race.

“She won’t be disgraced, she’s been ticking along nicely,’’ he said.

“We think we’ve worked out how to ride her, riding her off the pace, and she’s been getting back and getting home.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting