Former New Zealand galloper Edit will kick off his quest for a start in The Kosciuszko when he starts at Tamworth on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Edit won two races in New Zealand in November before he was transferred to Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan.
A lot of eyes will be on Edit, who has been seen in public three time in Australia, finishing fourth, first and third in trials at Muswellbrook, Scone and Tamworth, respectively.
Read also:
The lightly raced five-year-old has cut an imposing figure in his trials and will be well fancied to stake his claim for - a $1.3 million race - in the Tamworth Rush (1200m) on Monday.
Edit is on the fifth line of betting for The Kosciuszko, at $11, and will face a stiff test on his Australian debut
Some trainers will use the Rush as a chance to also push their case for better class races, including Taree mentor Ross Dawson with his honest mare Gold Bracelet.
Dawson will make the long trip from his base at Taree, believing he has Gold Bracelet back to her best after a quick winning start to her career.
The five-year-old won four of her first six starts and in more recent times has had to overcome a ligament injury which has restricted her racing.
Dawson only trains the one racehorse.
"I'm 77, and she gets all the time she needs from me to get her right," he said.
"Some of the owners of Gold Bracelet have had horses with me before and so far she has been pretty good, winning five of her 11 starts.
"I think she has the ability to go on and win better and this race will show where she is up to, because there are some handy horses in the race."
Gold Bracelet claimed the $60,000 Queen Of The North at Port Macquarie in January before returning after a 29-week racing lay-off with a seventh at Newcastle in August.
The lengthy lay off wasn't planned, as Dawson decided to give the mare time to recover, which has restricted her to just two starts in 11 months.
The veteran mentor is confident she is back to her best and has engaged the services of experienced jockey Christian Reith for Monday's assignment.
Meanwhile, Tamworth-trained galloper Cassy's Sister is also trying to capture the attention of Kosciuszko slot-holders after some excellent displays this campaign.
Trainer Troy O'Neile believes Cassy's Sister has the form to warrant selection in the rich race. But to guarantee a spot she needs to win races.
"She has form around the right horses who are being talked about for The Kosciuszko," he said.
If Dawson's pride and joy wins the Rush, it will put her name forward for The Kosciuszko, which will be run at Randwick on October 16.
"Edit is in the betting for The Kosciuszko so it [the Rush] will give me a guide [as to] where she stands," he said.
"It's a fair trip for me to get to Tamworth [some four and a half hours] but I feel she is back to her best and it is a suitable race. If she is right, they will know she is there."
If she does that, he said, "she will run a big race".
Dubai Tycoon, meanwhile, has recent race fitness on his side and is coming off a last start victory at Dubbo.
The six-year-old is ideally drawn in barrier two for jockey Rory Hutchings and goes up in the weights by three kilograms to 61 kilograms on his latest victory.
Last year's Tamworth Rush winner Dubai Tycoon is back for another crack at the race. The six-year-old gelding has raced twice at the course, for a win and a second.
Another Tamworth Rush runner, Superior Witness, has won four of his 10 starts and faces his stiffest test against open-class competition for the first time.
The four-year-old has excelled this campaign for trainer Luke Thomas, winning twice and finishing second from as many starts.
There will be seven races on Monday, with the track rated a soft six.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark northerndailyleader.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News