Trainer Gratz Vella has announced Music Time will be set for The Kosciuszko during the Sydney spring carnival, bypassing the Group 1 Golden Rose for three-year-olds.
Vella cited the significant draw of The Kosciuszko for country-based trainers and suggested the Golden Slipper placegetter would be more effective over the 1200-metre distance at Royal Randwick.
“The Kosciuszko is a $2 million race for country horses and that is hard for a battling bush trainer like me to ignore,” Vella told Racing And Sports. “So, we are trying to plan for him to get to The Kosciuszko. We will see how the horse is over the next month and might look at a three-year-old lead-up race.”
Music Time is being aimed at becoming the first three-year-old to win the $2 million The Kosciuszko on October 17, a feature race on The Everest race day.
Currently, he is second in TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Kosciuszko at $8, with Torque To Be Sure the $6 favourite.
In the initial markets for the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26, Music Time is available at $26, while Golden Slipper hero Guest House is the $4.50 market leader.
“I just think the Golden Rose might be a bit early for him,” Vella revealed.
Music Time enjoyed a strong juvenile season, winning three of his five starts, including a decisive all-the-way victory in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra.
Following his impressive Black Opal win, connections opted to pay the $150,000 late entry fee for the Golden Slipper. The gelding rewarded them with a fine performance to finish third, earning $425,000.
Vella sent Music Time for a spell after the Slipper, and he has since returned to the stables “bigger and stronger”, according to Racing And Sports.
“He’s been back in a month, he’s grown and put on some weight which is what you would expect,” Vella said. “He’s doing everything right.”
The form from the Golden Slipper, where Music Time finished behind Guest House and Streisand, has been well-supported by the subsequent runs of fourth-placed Campione D’Italia and seventh-placed Fireball.
Campione D’Italia subsequently won the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, with Fireball securing third place. The two colts then met again in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes, where Fireball narrowly defeated Campione D’Italia.
“The form around Music Time is super,” Vella enthused. “It’s exciting to think what is ahead for him next season.”
For those interested in the upcoming racing action, explore the various betting markets for the race at leading Australian bookmakers.
