TAMWORTH trainer Sue Grills has given Burning Crown the green light to chase a berth in this year's The Kosciuszko after turning down the chance to enter last year's event.
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Grills knocked back the chance to enter last year's race, believing the three-year-old gelding was not "savvy enough" for the race.
However, Grills believes 2019 could provide Burning Crown with the chance to compete in the $1.3 million race.
"He will definitely be ready to race in The Kosciuszko, that's for sure," Grills told the Leader.
"He's been out for a spell for the last few months, so he should be back firing soon."
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Despite being approached by a slot-holder to enter Burning Crown in last year's 12-horse field, Grills believed 2019's edition of the race would be a better fit for the three-year-old.
"We weren't too sure if he would be a chance for this year, but he has impressed us enough to suggest he could go well," Grills said.
"It's early days yet, but I think the spell has done him some good, so now we wait and see how he goes in the preparation."
Grills said she would look to ease Burning Crown into The Kosciuszko calculations through regional race meetings.
"At this stage, I'd say his first run back from the spell will be at Tamworth in early September," she said.
"From there, we will have a bit of a look at what's about to see where we go from there.
"Whether it's another local run or perhaps a mid-week run in Sydney, we will sit down and have a look at that as we get closer.
"It's still early days yet."
With just under three weeks left of ticket sales for The Kosciuszko, Grills said she was hopeful of earning an opportunity to compete for the $1.3 million showcase.
"It really is an exciting time of year," she said.
"I think he is pretty well poised to have a go at it this year, in my opinion.
"It's early days yet, but I'm confident he could give it a shake.
"We are more than open to any discussions about it, so hopefully we can make something happen."
The Kosciuszko is not the only glory on Grills' mind, with Mick's Regret tasting victory at Gunnedah on Monday.
Greg Ryan helped pilot the four-year-gelding to a maiden victory in race 4 of Gunnedah's AgQuip Cup meeting.
A late surge saw Mick's Regret storm home by less than half a length over the Kris Lees trained Salsa Dreaming and Blazing Sunrise in second and third respectively.
The 2019 Kosciuszko will be held on Everest Day, October 19 at Royal Randwick.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
