Double Kosciuszko joy for Inverell connections
The Todd Payne-trained Lisztomania. Image: Trackside Photography.
Inverell’s affinity with the $2 million The Kosciuszko is set to continue in 2026, both with the Tatts Hotel and Todd Payne Racing team.
Following months of promotion and sales, winning ticket holders were announced on Monday, and for the third time in four years, a Tatts Hotel syndicate won a slot.
Scott ‘Slip’ Williams and other ticket holders won the race in 2024 after they successfully selected the David McColm-trained Far Too Easy, which was ridden to victory by Craig Williams.
This year, the Tatts Hotel have elected to go with Goulburn-based trainer Matthew Dale, selecting outright $5 favourite So You Pence.
The seven-year-old So You Think mare, raced by Kurrinda Bloodstock and connections, has started ten times for five wins and resumed from a spell in late July when taking out a 1300m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Royal Randwick.
Boasting an impressive strike rate and multiple metropolitan victories, the Goulburn galloper and her new Inverell connections will be every chance of making their mark in the country-only feature sprint on October 17.
Joining the Tatts Hotel in the quest for more Kosciuszko glory is local trainer Todd Payne, who will start Lisztomania.
The eight-year-old Dream Ahead gelding has been a wonderful horse for connections, winning five times and earning over $750,000.
A Highway Handicap winner at Royal Randwick early last year, the Inverell galloper went on to finish second to Know Thyself in the 2025 Country Championships and has since landed metropolitan wins over 1200m at Eagle Farm in June and Rosehill Gardens in August.
Primed for an assault on next month’s $2 million feature race, Glenmore Park ticket winner Brenden Allen selected the Todd Payne-trained galloper, which is equal on the sixth line of betting at $11.
All eyes will now be on the rich country-only race at Royal Randwick on October 17, where the best sprinters in country NSW will battle for life-changing prizemoney.