Magnus Sprinter Wins $2million Kosciuszko
Widden Stud’s Magnus is rarely without a good sprinter and talented country galloper Front Page enjoyed the biggest of pay days when taking out the $2million ATC The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Geoff Duryea, Front Page was a contender for the past two runnings of this race but was withdrawn both times and has at last had the opportunity to show what he can do.
Tyler Schiller allowed Front Page to roll to the front and he did the rest, scoring by three-quarters of a length from the favourite Far Too Easy.
How does it feel to win The Kosciuszko?
"Bloody good."
🗣 Hear from trainer Geoff Duryea after Front Page's win. pic.twitter.com/phRC3PL8yd
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 15, 2022
“”I didn’t actually want to lead and when he just took me to the front under his own terms, I was just happy to go with the horse,” said Schiller.
“I know how much ability he has and when he gave a kick at the top of the straight, I actually thought he was pretty vulnerable. But he’s toughed it out super and he’s a ripper horse.”
Already a stakes-winner of the Listed VRC AR Creswick Stakes, Front Page took his overall record to six wins and three seconds from 14 starts with earnings of $1.3million.
“Third time lucky. The first time was just a freak accident, the second time there was nothing we could do about it,” said Geoff Duryea on winning the Kosciuszko at the third attempt.
“But he’s done the right thing this time, I’ve a had perfect preparation. He’s had two barrier trials at Wangaratta. He’s won them both and I couldn’t ask for any more.”
Retained to race by his breeders, Front Page is a brother to the stakes-placed filly News Girl and is out of Stacey Lee, a talented daughter of Bel Esprit. She won five of her 20 starts banking $73,257 and is a daughter of Group I placed mare Curio Jade.
Stacy Lee was covered by Widden Stud’s Magnus again last year and produced a full sister to Front Page in September.
