Music Time heads Kosciuszko charge as ACT joins slot draw

Golden Slipper placegetter Music Time will have the $2 million Kosciuszko as a primary spring target, as the sweepstakes concept of the slot race has been extended to include ACT racing fans for the first time.

Trained in Canberra, Music Time emerged as a genuine juvenile talent this season under Gratz Vella, winning the Black Opal Stakes on his home track en route to finishing third in the Golden Slipper.

The son of All Too Hard was included on the second line of Kosciuszko betting as an $8 chance when TAB markets opened on Wednesday.

ACT residents had been excluded from buying tickets in the sweepstakes that gives punters a chance to secure a slot in the race restricted to country-trained horses.

“The Kosciuszko is amongst Racing NSW’s most innovative and important races of the year and offers the hardworking participants from the country their chance to shine on the biggest stage,” Canberra Racing Club chief executive Darren Pearce said.

“Our trainers dream of winning this race and we are an important part of the NSW and ACT racing ecosystem so it’s great that our members and community are now eligible to draw a winning ticket and potentially pick their local hero.”

Magic Millions Guineas winner Torque To Be Sure, trained at Murwillumbah by Matthew Dunn, is the $6 Kosciuszko favourite.