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| Staff Writer |
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The final piece of the puzzle has fallen into place for the US$1.28 million The Kosciuszko, with Country Championships Final winner Asgarda securing the last slot in the prestigious race. The Doug Gorrel-trained mare, having proved her mettle with a first-up victory at Wagga Wagga, is now poised to tackle the 1200m contest at Royal Randwick on 19 October.
Carrying a hefty 62kg in her recent Wagga Wagga outing, Asgarda demonstrated she has returned in peak condition, justifying her inclusion in the Kosciuszko field. Her trainer, Doug Gorrel, will be eyeing a historic double, as Asgarda attempts to emulate the feat achieved by Art Cadeau in 2021 - winning both the Country Championship Final and The Kosciuszko in the same year.
With Asgarda's inclusion, the 14-horse field for The Kosciuszko is now complete, boasting what many consider to be the strongest line-up in the race's history.
Previous Kosciuszko winners have gone on to achieve further success, with It's Me claiming the 2020 edition before going on to place in the Gr.1 The Galaxy, while Handle The Truth, victorious in 2019, later secured the Listed Ortensia Stakes.
In other racing news, connections of star miler Mr Brightside have elected to bypass the Gr.1 US$3.2 million King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick on Everest Day. Trainer Ben Hayes, who operates in partnership with his brothers Will and JD, confirmed on Monday that their charge is likely to remain in Melbourne to concentrate on the Gr.1 US$3.2 million Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on 26 October.
Hayes indicated that Mr Brightside's final preparatory run will come in the Gr.1 US$640,000 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on 12 October. This decision marks a change from last year's campaign, where Mr Brightside contested both the King Charles III Stakes and Cox Plate, finishing second in each.
The timing of the two races this spring, separated by just a week, has prompted the Hayes team to alter their approach. "We've decided to focus on the Might And Power as our final lead-up to the Cox Plate," Ben Hayes explained. "It gives us the ideal spacing between runs and allows us to keep Mr Brightside in his familiar Melbourne environment."
In the wake of Mr Brightside's withdrawal, the King Charles III Stakes market has seen a reshuffle. Pride Of Jenni, fresh from her victory over Mr Brightside in the Feehan Stakes at The Valley, now heads the market . Last year's winner, Fangirl, is close behind in the field in light of this significant development.