Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Mudgee trainer Mark Jones hopes he has his timing spot on to give Crusader Kings his best chance to make a case for the Kosciuszko when he resumes at Dubbo on Monday.

Trainer Mark Jones (Pic: Janian McMillan).

Twice narrowly denied a start in the Country Championships Final earlier this year, the six-year-old deliberately turns up in the Westside Hotel Handicap (1200m) two days before the 14 slot winners are drawn.

And Jones, who only has two horses in work, said if he is able to win with a big weight and wide barrier it’s as good an advertisement for the $2 million race as he could have.

“I think he’s a better horse than he was last time, I’ve yet to prove it though,’’ Jones said.

“He’s top weight, he’s drawn a bad barrier. He can probably overcome those things, he’s a big strong horse in his work.

“He doesn’t need to improve much to be competitive in a Kosciuszko.”

Crusader Kings was a TAB Highway winner earlier in the year then Jones set his sights on the Country Championships.

The gelding started favourite in the Central Districts Championships on his home track, looked the winner at the 200m only to be swamped late and finish fourth.

It was a similar story in the Southern Wild Card at Goulburn where he started $21 and again dashed to the lead only for Graceful Ellen, who ultimately finished runner-up in the Final, denying him.

Fourth in that Wild Card was subsequent Group 3 winner Autumn Break so Jones said there’s nothing wrong with the form around him and hopes he can perform to expectations fresh having secured Aaron Bullock to ride.

“We’re going to take one race at a time but he’ll give me more of an indication how he’s going at Dubbo,’’ he said.

“He had a soft trial, won it very easily, there wasn’t anything in it.

“If you look a bit more into his form he’s hardly been beaten by much in nearly every race. He’s extremely honest, that’s the beauty of a horse like him.

“I’m not looking to go any further than 1400m, but 1100m and 1200m is definitely his sweet spot. That’s where he really shines I feel.”

Kosciuszko ticket sales close with TAB at 11.59pm on Monday, they can be purchased via the TAB app, at outlets, pubs and clubs and at race meetings for $5 each.

The 14 winners can then select a NSW country or ACT trained horse to run in the race, experience TAB Everest Day as an owner, and share in its prizemoney.

Jones said connections of Crusader Kings have bought some tickets already, perhaps if he wins at Dubbo they might get a few more, but he hasn’t personally. That’s only due to superstition.

“My normal attitude is just let the horse do the talking,’’ Jones said.

“I’ve got a very good jockey on him, he’ll work him out and give him every chance. If for some reason he’s not shaping up we’ll look for other things.”

One of Crusader Kings’ rivals at Dubbo will be 2025 Central Districts Championships winner Zarizatycoon, who is also first-up from a spell, with trainer Gayna Williams considering a back up into next week's $110,000 The Panorama (1300m) at Bathurst.

Crusader Kings wins a Mudgee trial on August 30

The gelding has had a stop-start career and Williams is hopeful he can return on the right foot.

"He would need a run prior to the Panorama, it’s just a thought but that’s all it is at the moment,'' she said.

"He’s always had issues and you’ve just got to take every day as it comes."

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Dubbo meeting