The Kosciuszko
Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
After the success of the Everest, Racing NSW introduced a smaller version for country trained horses in the state to be known as The Kosciuszko.
To be run at Randwick by the Australian Turf Club on Everest day, it was slightly different in terms of the setup of the race.
Run over 1200m under Set Weights and Penalty conditions, The Kosciuszko was worth $2,000,000.
Like the Everest, the field was restricted in numbers (to 14 runners in 2020) but unlike the Everest, it was decided in another manner.
Punters around NSW could purchase $5 tickets from TAB accounts, venues and phone and then there was a draw in mid-September much like a Sweepstakes.
Once the 14 tickets were drawn, those people with live tickets had an option to negotiate with the actual owners of country trained horses for those horses to run for them in The Kosciuszko. They also negotiate the breakup of prizemoney.
Racing NSW could assist in the provision on information of the horses which could be allocated.
In 2024, the horses were from NSW Country and ACT areas and Group 1 winners after 31 Dec 2022 were ineligible.
Horses from all around NSW competed in the first running in 2018 with some elite horses that were stakes runners in the field. However, on a day of rain on and off, it was conducted on Heavy going.
The field for the 2025 running of The Kosciuszko included Clear Thinking, Gallant Star, Chidiac, Lisztomania, So You Pence, Front Page, Boston Rocks, Melody Again, Golden Decade, Without Parallel, So Magnificent, Bandi's Boy, Highway Strip and Compelling Truth.
In 2019 it went to one of those added Canberra runners. On the line, the last two Country Championships winners and the last Provincial Championships winner finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th.
It's Me won in 2020 after her trainer Brett Cavanough believed she may be scratched after encountering some issues in the week leading up. But the vets cleared her and she got up late.
Art Cadeau became the first horse to do the Country Championships/Kosciuszko double.
Front Page became the first horse to win the race twice and in doing so led all the way both times.
After placing twice behind Front Page, Far Too Easy would get redemption in the 2024 race.
The winner of The Kosciuszko in 2025 was Clear Thinking (Tyler Schiller/Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich) from Gallant Star and Chidiac.
Previous The Kosciuszko Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
CLEAR THINKING
(GB)
5M DUBAWI (IRE) - SWEET IDEA (AUS) SNITZEL (AUS) |
TYLER SCHILLER | 53.5 | PAUL MESSARA & LEAH GAVRANICH | 13 |
|
|
FAR TOO EASY
(AUS)
6G ALL TOO HARD (AUS) - MNEMONIC (AUS) HUSSONET (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 59.0 | DAVID MCCOLM | 1 |
|
|
FRONT PAGE
(AUS)
7G MAGNUS (AUS) - STACEY LEE (AUS) BEL ESPRIT (AUS) |
TYLER SCHILLER | 59.0 | MATTHEW DALE | 8 |
|
|
FRONT PAGE
(AUS)
6G MAGNUS (AUS) - STACEY LEE (AUS) BEL ESPRIT (AUS) |
TYLER SCHILLER | 59.0 | GEOFF DURYEA | 4 |
|
|
ART CADEAU
(AUS)
5G ARTIE SCHILLER (USA) - JEWELLED GATE (AUS) HURRICANE SKY (AUS) |
TOMMY BERRY | 57.5 | TERRY ROBINSON | 3 |
|
|
IT'S ME
(AUS)
4M SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) - IT'S YOU (AUS) CELTIC SWING (GB) |
JASON COLLETT | 53.5 | BRETT CAVANOUGH | 7 |
|
|
HANDLE THE TRUTH
(AUS)
4G STAR WITNESS (AUS) - ASSERTIVELY (AUS) BERNARDINI (USA) |
N RAWILLER | 57.0 | KEITH DRYDEN | 7 |
|
|
BELFLYER
(AUS)
7G BEL ESPRIT (AUS) - FLYING RUBY (AUS) RUBITON (AUS) |
ADAM HYERONIMUS | 57.5 | JOHN SHELTON | 11 |
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