Image – Bradley Photos.
The Danny Williams-trained Wizard Of Oz might have granted connections their Kosciuszko wish on Saturday following his gritty victory in the 1200m Class Three Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick.
Ridden by Jason Collett, Wizard Of Oz ($5) got the dream when positioned on the rails just behind the leaders before fighting his way to the line for a long-neck victory from the Tash Burleigh-trained Iron Will (Billy Owen, $9), while in third and just over one length back was the David Smith-trained I Like Big Putts (Clayton Gallagher, $81).
With The Kosciuszko ticket holders set to be announced on Wednesday, Williams said the win was timely as connections dreamed of their five-year-old contesting the $2 million country-only race, which will be run and won at Royal Randwick on October 14.
“Obviously, everyone is aiming high for that sort of thing at this time of year, and traditionally, the winner of the last Highway is very prominent in discussions,” Williams said.
“You’re going to have your leading selections in the market, but after those four or five, it does play on current form, and Wizard of Oz is a horse in form.”
A four-time winner, Williams has only had the Exceed and Excel horse in his yard for three of his 22 starts.
Formerly trained by Warren Gavenlock, Wizard Of Oz, which is $31 in The Kosciuszko markets, contested the 2022 $500,000 Country Championships final at Royal Randwick in April after finishing second to Bean Foggy in the $150,000 Northern Rivers Country Championships qualifier at Coffs Harbour in February.
In his three starts for Williams, Wizard of Oz has impressed.
On debut, he ran a luckless fourth to Iron Will at Randwick on July 29. Then, on August 12, he finished second to the Gayna Williams-trained Overlord at Rosehill Gardens in the lead-up to Saturday’s victory at Randwick.
“I thought he was a bit stiff not to win his first start for us,” Williams said.
“The horse that won it (Iron Will) ran second to us on Saturday, and in that first run, if he got the run, he wins that race, but it was a luckless effort, and he got pipped in a photo for second.
“At his second run, he got buttered up and ran second, and then, of course, he won well on Saturday.”
Williams said it was hard to look past winning form and race fitness when asked why he would be a good option for The Kosciuszko.
“He is a very straightforward horse; he can handle the soft and dry, and he is a very fit horse in form at the right time of the year.
“You can’t ask for anything else.”
Ticket holders will be looking at Highway form when considering their Kosciuszko options.
As a result, Williams believes winning the hotly-contested Saturday country-only races is getting harder and harder.
“With Highways now, you have to have a Saturday class horse to be winning,” Williams said.
“They have become so competitive, and you’ll often see plenty of midweek form.
“The race on the weekend is a perfect example; that was a pretty deep race.”
Williams has a few Kosciuszko hopefuls in his yard, including Atmospheric Rock, which flashed late to finish fourth to Wizard Of Oz on Saturday.
The four-year-old, which is a $51 chance in The Kosciuszko markets, had Tom Sherry in the saddle and got way back before making up much ground in the final furlong, going down by just over a length at the finish.
The enigmatic galloper has a lot of ability, and Williams said he will probably back the Your Song gelding up in the 1400m Class Three Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday in a bid to have him picked for The Kosciuszko.
“He has come through that race so well, and I’m considering backing him up Saturday,” Williams said.
“It’s 1400m, but it would be good exposure if he were to win the race three or four days after the draw, and if he were to get in, we would just freshen him up.”
With a stable full of handy gallopers, Williams also has Bandi’s Boy as an option, with the four-year-old due to trial on Friday after 54 weeks away from the races.
A city winner, Bandi’s Boy, is coming back from injury and is blessed with plenty of ability, and NSW Country and Picnic Racing will publish more on his chances on Wednesday morning.
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