The $1.3 million Kosciuszko field is filled, with Ruthless Agent being signed to the final slot on Sunday morning, and while Mudgee’s Cameron Crockett was hopeful he’d have the chance to show Nictock for that spot, he’ll still have Sharpe Hussler start.
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Newcastle's Matthew Williams signed Sharpe Hussler to his slot late last week, with Crockett scratching him from the final race at Randwick on Saturday as a result, to give his star the best chance possible on Everest day on October 13.
Williams took a couple of weeks to select Crockett’s star, but that was due to limited internet access with him being “in the middle of nowhere”, some 160 kilometres north of Port Augusta working.
“I’m in the middle of the desert, I hardly get internet and couldn’t research a lot so it took a long time to get it done,’’ Williams said.
Despite the delay in selecting his horse, Williams said one of the big selling points for Sharpe Hussler was the passion of his owners.
“The people who own him are from the country, that was always in the back of my mind,’’ he said.
“For my $5 ticket if I was only getting the prizemoney for coming 12th it’s been a hell of a journey.
“In the end I looked at his form and talking with Cameron and owner Mark (Sharpe), there is true belief in this horse winning this race.’’
Crockett told Racing NSW he’d virtually “given up” on the $1.3 million race, which is why he’d nominated for last weekend’s meeting.
“I’d almost given up on the Kosciuszko idea and that’s why we were taking him … on Saturday,’’ Crockett said.
“I [didn’t] think it will be wise to travel down, race on Saturday then go back in two weeks.
“He had a trial at Scone the other day to keep him ticking over and he had a bit of blow.
“I like to see that too when they are deep into a prep, if they have a bit of a blow it means there is still improvement in them.’’
Sharpe Hussler has won eight of his 33 starts and is a $15 chance with TAB in The Kosciuszko behind Care To Think ($3.50).
The gelding last raced at Randwick on August 18 and while he only beat one horse home behind Almanzora he was run off his feet early in the 1000m race, but still ran 33.15 for his last 600 and 11.44 for his last 200, which was second only to the winner.
“The only horse that won all day in the part of the track he was in was Winx,’’ Crockett said.
“There was a smashing head wind up the back and he was running into it, nothing went his way but I think he is right on track now.
“The prizemoney is extraordinary, I know it is a hard race to win but it is country horses and he’s above average for the country.’’
