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By Ray Hickson

The planning for a shot at the $2 million The Kosciuszko starts now for Clear Thinking after the royally bred mare kept her unbeaten record intact with a a stunning TAB Highway win at Randwick.

Paul Messara after Clear Thinking's Highway win. (Pic: Steve Hart).

It was shades of It’s Me’s Kosciuszko win from 2020 as the four-year-old overcame slipping at the start and traffic problems in the straight before launching a sharp late burst to get the job done.

She ran down proven Highway performer Tanglewood to win by a half neck with a long neck to Lisztomania in third over the 1200m.

Co-trainer Paul Messara, who post-race revealed Arrowfield had purchased It’s Me and that the mare is in foal to Maurice, said Clear Thinking proved with her Highway win that she is a horse with plenty of talent and has earned a break and the chance to tackle The Kosciuszko.

Of course she needs to be selected by one of the 14 people drawn from those who purchase the $5 tickets in The Kosciuszko sweepstakes but the win took her to the second line of betting at $8 with TAB for the October 19 race.

“Tanglewood is very good horse and he kept going right to the line so it's a big effort to show that turn of foot on this type of ground,’’ Messara said.

“She’s been a complete surprise for us, coming out and doing what she’s done has been a bonus and where she goes from here will be another bonus.

“With those three wins on the board now she will be a horse that will feature in (Kosciuszko) discussions.”

Jockey Zac Lloyd revealed Clear Thinking slipped at the start of the race and confessed “I don’t know how she did that”, adding merit to the performance.

The daughter of Group 1 winner Sweet Idea produced the fastest last 200m of the race, running 11.96 (Punter’s Intelligence), and Messara said given what she had to overcome he couldn’t be anything but excited about her prospects.

“We didn’t think we’d end up where we were in the run, our intention was the clear a few more,’’ he said.

“I’m really pleased with the effort, at the 100m I thought we were doing it pretty tough and I thought it’d be a nice second or third if she got out and got home.

“But to win was excellent, she’s a filly with a big future and you can’t do more than win three from three. We’ll find out where the ceiling is next preparation.”

When It’s Me won the Kosciuszko four years ago she did it at her fourth race start following two Highway wins. Messara said he may look to another Highway in the spring as a lead up for Clear Thinking.

Lloyd thought it was game over when Clear Thinking slipped from behind at the jump.

“I thought 'Oh no - this is a stitch up',’’ he said.

“I was stuck behind all these horses now. And then you wouldn't have found a slower run Highway.

Clear Thinking wins the Highway at Randwick

“For a horse who they have been struggling to get her to settle, she found herself in amongst them at only her third start in a slowly run race.

“I don't know how she did that. Saved by a very good horse.”

Tickets in The Kosciuszko are available for $5 each via TAB through agencies, the TAB app, pubs and clubs and at race meetings until September 9. The winners drawn on September 11.

All the results and replays from Saturday's Randwick meeting