Latest News

By Greg Prichard

Group 1 winning trainer Nick Olive believes his top mare Kimberley Secrets is ready to clinch a start in The Kosciuszko by performing strongly at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Nick Olive

Queanbeyan-based Olive entered Kimberley Secrets in two races, but after seeing the nominations he decided to run her in the Precise Air Handicap over 1100 metres.

A big run by the six-year-old would be perfect timing almost on the eve of the slot draw for The Kosciuszko. Kimberley Secrets is a $15 chance in the betting for the race with TAB.

The $2 million The Kosciuszko will be run over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 18.

Punters can go in the draw to have a horse run for them in The Kosciuszko by purchasing sweepstakes tickets at $5 each through the TAB app, tab.com.au, your local pub and club and at race meetings.

Ticket sales close at 11.59pm on Monday, September 8, and the 14 slot-holders will be drawn at 10am on Wednesday, September 10. They can then do a deal on a prizemoney split with the connections of eligible runners trained in the NSW country or ACT.

Kimberley Secrets put her toughness on full display when she resumed from a spell to win a Fillies & Mares Benchmark 72 race over 1100 metres at Warwick Farm on August 20.

On a bottomless Heavy 10 track she went to the lead 700 metres from home and then fought off a determined challenge from Vanessi in the closing stages to win.

She’ll be a lot better off for that run as she attacks a more difficult assignment on Saturday.

“I knew she was flying going into that race, but even though she loves the wet you always have a question mark racing on a track like that first-up after a long break,” Olive said.

“But she did a great job and never looked like getting beat. She got a bit tired at the end, but it was a great win and she’s gained a lot of improvement from that.

“She handles the wet where others don’t, but she’s won on all surfaces so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Kimberley Secrets has already proved she is right up to Kosciusko class. She ran sixth to Front Page in The Kosciuszko in 2023, which followed a sixth in the Country Championships Final that year.

A suspensory ligament injury meant she didn’t race at all in 2024, but Olive says Kimberley Secrets recovered well from that and is likely entering her best period as a racehorse.

“Right now she’s in the best order we’ve ever had her, which is great,” he said.

“I’d love for her to run well on Saturday.

"The timing would be perfect and if she got a run in The Kosciuszko I could then freshen her up again for a really good crack at it.

Kimberley Secrets wins at Warwick Farm on August 20

“She’s got the form at Country Championships and Kosciuszko level and she’s matured a lot and not been over-raced, so this could be the best chance she’s had to win a Kosciuszko.

“I’m sure she’ll run well on Saturday. She’s ready to be very competitive.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting