KURRINDA MARE’S STUNNING RETURN EARNS KOSCIUSZKO JOINT FAVORITISM

KURRINDA Bloodstock boss Sean Driver says he is surprised So You Pence is not outright favorite for the $2m The Kosciuszko (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.

The rising seven-year-old mare made a stunning return at that track yesterday, trouncing her rivals in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) after having not started since winning the $250,000 Barn Dance (1300m) there last November.

TAB.com.au shortened So You Pence from $15 to $8 – and she is one of six horses sharing favoritism.

“I think she should be outright favorite,” Driver said today.

“She is a really good mare (the story of her injury woes leading up to yesterday’s resumption was highlighted prior to the race on provincialracingnsw.com.au), and that was a dominant performance yesterday.

“Chidiac, who won the Country Championships Final earlier in the year and then the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown, finished three lengths behind So You Pence in the Barn Dance.

“I’ll chat with So You Pence’s trainer Matt Dale, who has done a tremendous job with her, to gauge whether she has another run leading into The Kosciuszko or goes into it fresh like yesterday.”

The Hunter-based syndicator hopes to have two mares lining up in The Kossie, with So You Pence’s stablemate Super Norwest also ready to come into contention for a slot.

“Super Norwest is a four times Saturday winner in town, and deserves to be there,” Driver said.

Sadly, Kurrinda Bloodstock won’t get the chance to also win a slot in The Kossie with Boston Rocks, whose seven wins included victories in both Sydney and Melbourne.

“Boston Rocks had a colic attack last December, then had a relapse in April when he was a week into pre-training, and couldn’t be saved,” Driver explained.

Ahead of Kurrinda’s annual open day today at the syndicator’s Fordwich property in the Hunter, So You Pence’s sizzling return followed a Kembla Grange victory with Rockthevelio ($4.80) yesterday.

The three-year-old daughter of Castelvecchio is putting together a nice record.

Her triumph, with Louise Day aboard, in the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1300m) was her second – and she has also been placed on the other three occasions from her five starts.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees also landed a two-track double; Misato at Eagle Farm and Hawker Hall at Randwick.

Misato, ridden by stable apprentice Ben Osmond, overcame a wide run in the 2YO Handicap (1400m) as a $2.05 favorite to make it two wins from only three starts.

A daughter of Maurice, Misato cost $210,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling last year and is raced by Lees’ close friend Edward Throsby.

Hawker Hall (James McDonald) made a successful return in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1100m) at Randwick, defeating Istolea Merc ($26) and Zouripper ($16) to post the sixth win of his 14-start career.

Fellow Newcastle trainer Dale Wagstaff ventured bush to win the Class 3 Handicap (900m) with Ken’ker (Serg Lisnyy) at $7.

Wagstaff put blinkers on the Duporth six-year-old, who was a $3500 online buy in December last year.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 26, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS