Kosciuszko placegetter ready to Star at Randwick

Trainer Brett Robb will continue guiding the career of Gallant Star after the gelding’s ownership group firmly declared their intentions to keep him at Dubbo rather than move him to a city stable.

Robb said his suggestion to shift the horse was purely practical due to the challenges of travelling to metropolitan meetings with a high benchmark runner, but the owners—including former Test cricketer and broadcaster Kerry O’Keeffe—wanted him to stay put.

“On his run in the Festival Stakes … there is a really good race in this horse,” Robb said.

“They said, ‘No way. He’s your horse and we want you to win the good race with him.’”

Gallant Star resumes his campaign in Saturday’s Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, fourth-up following three strong efforts including his Kosciuszko placing and his brave Festival Stakes run behind subsequent The Ingham winner Yorkshire.

Robb admitted he would have preferred a mile but said the timing suits a progression toward the lucrative The Lakes (1600m) next month.

“I’d love to win The Kosciuszko … and I think I’ve got the right horse to do it,” he said.

The trainer was thrilled with the gelding’s barrier five draw and his work on Tuesday.

“I galloped him yesterday morning myself and I don’t reckon I’ve had the horse as good,” he said.

“He’s spot-on at the moment … he can definitely run a race.”

Zac Lloyd, fresh off his Randwick treble last weekend, takes the mount.

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