At Witz End has secured a place in the $2 million Kosciuszko lineup at Randwick on October 19 … a reward that is as deserving as it would have highly unlikely at the start of the year.
The fact that trainer Daniel Bowen has worked wonders with the now nine-year-old since At Witz End came into his stable having not posted a race win in twenty-three starts since saluting in July 2021, has been well documented, as has Bowen’s intention to ensure At Witz End’s name remained in the mix for Kosciuszko selection … which is a contest in itself with every runner being nominated by Kosciuszko Sweepstake winners … as the son of Epaulette’s form began to flourish once again.
In all, since kicking off with Bowen, At Witz End won four races in the four-month period from mid-March to mid-July, including wins in the $160 000 ATC Cup and the $200 000 Eye Liner Stakes.
Throw in a second-place finish in the Glasshouse and a third-place finish in the Chief De Beers … again both Listed races … and it is clear to see that while At Witz End’s form was building momentum, so too was his claim for Kosciuszko selection … and, once the fourteen sweepstake winners were decided on Wednesday morning, it didn’t take long before Bowen received the phone call he had working on getting for many months.
“I got a call … it was only half-an-hour after the draw,” explained Bowen. “Actually, I got a text from Kasie Stanley before that, telling me that a friend of hers was going to ring me shortly … and that he was representing the person that drew a ticket and who was interested in At Witz End.
“I took that call and within five minutes the deal was done.
“I wasn’t surprised that At Witz End was taken up so quickly,” continued Bowen. “If he was four or five years old, he would be one of the favourites for the race with the form he has got.
“It’s just the same story it was with him over the carnival. Every time he won, they made him a bigger price next time because they couldn’t believe an eight-year-old could keep winning … and now he’s nine so they him at a longer price than he would be with that form if he was a younger horse.”
While waiting for this opportunity, Bowen has kept At Witz End away from race action … but still ticking along … since his second place in the Glasshouse on July 14.
“He’s had a freshen. He’ll have a jump out next week … a good jump out … and he’ll either go to the Weetwood first-up or an Open Handicap in Brisbane,” said Bowen. He’ll just have that one run before Sydney.”
The Sydney trip itself takes a bit of planning but Bowen has a clear philosophy on that.
“Yeah, there’s planning involved, but I’ll just keep it simple and won’t overthink it,” stated Bowen.
And there remains a chance that Bowen might be able to field a two-pronged attack in the Kosciuszko with the five-year-old mare Tectonic Plate another possible candidate for Kosciuszko selection.
The seven-time winning daughter of Supido is bang in form, having won three of her last four starts, including a Brisbane metropolitan win at Eagle Farm in an Open Handicap over 1200m, the Kosciuszko distance.
“Yeah, we’re waiting on a call but, regardless of whether she gets into the Kosciuszko or not, her last run, albeit unlucky (when finishing a close-up third), showed she is a horse who could be a coming stakes winner,” offered Bowen.
“She’ll definitely run in the Weetwood … and she’ll get a light weight in that.
“Win, lose or draw with her in terms of any Kosciuszko selection, we’ve already got a runner in the Kosciuszko, so we are in a pretty comfortable position all around.
“A lot of the job is done.
“We must just do the fine-tuning now … keep them safe … and, like I said … keep it simple.”
