The Kosciuszko is well and truly on trainer Paul Messara’s radar with exciting mare Clear Thinking if she passes her TAB Highway test at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Paul Messara
A bit of hype surrounding the emerging galloper’s two Scone wins has seen her already on the $15 line with TAB in October’s $2 million country showpiece and she’s widely expected to make it three from three as the early $1.85 favourite for her city debut.
Messara, who co-trains with Leah Gavranich, said it’s very much run by run at this stage but if Clear Thinking wins impressively again The Kosciuszko will be the target.
“There’s no doubt that’s on the radar,’’ Messara said.
“If she wins on Saturday I’ll give her a little break and then aim toward the Kosciuszko. She’s the type of horse that people will be looking at.
“She’s a young horse and I think with a little rest and a prep under her belt she’ll come back a better horse. I do feel she’s a sprinter, I don’t think she’s a horse that’s going to get a mile, she’s a 1000m-1200m horse.”
While The Kosciuszko’s history says you generally need a tough, seasoned, campaigner to be a major winning chance there’s a sense that Clear Thinking could be another It’s Me – the exciting, lightly raced, type who explodes through the grades quickly.
In 2020, It’s Me won The Kosciuszko at her fourth race start having won a Scone maiden on debut followed by two TAB Highways.
“With these horses that are a bit untapped, you don’t know where the ceiling is,’’ Messara said.
“She doesn’t have anything about her that’s unbelievable. She’s relaxed, verging on lazy, in her work. She just does what you ask her to do and not an ounce more.
“You learn that as you get to know the horse and we’re still learning about this filly.
“She doesn’t have an amazing stride, riders don’t say she gives an amazing feel. She just goes about her business.
“She can only do what she’s done so far, it’s just the way she’s done it and she’s done it easily.”
Clear Thinking’s backstory is well known by now. She was bred by Queen Elizabeth II and purchased from the UK as a breeding prospect when some of her stock was reduced following The Queen’s passing.
She debuted with a spectacular 8-1/4 length win at Scone on June 11 then backed it up claiming a Class 1 over 1200m by 2-1/4 lengths 12 days later.
Messara rates the second win as superior and just has the fingers crossed she will handle the likely heavy conditions at Randwick on Saturday where he has Zac Lloyd booked to ride.
“I was more impressed by the second win in the fact she settled better, she found some cover, and was able to relax and get over the top of them,’’ he said.
“She’s been on a (soft) 6 and a 7 and seemed to get through those okay. You never know do you, pedigree wise I’m assuming she’ll be able to cope but we’ll find out on the day.
“They went hard enough the other day, it was a pretty truly run race even though she wasn’t against any champions.
“There are some good horses in Saturday’s race so she will know she’s in a race for sure.”
The $5 tickets in the Kosciuszko sweepstakes are on sale via TAB agencies, the TAB app, at pubs and clubs and race meetings.
– Racing NSW
