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The 2026 The Kosciuszko took place at Randwick on Saturday, October 17, 2026 as the key support act to the $20 million The Everest and was narrowly won by the progressive four-year-old mare Chains Of Love ($5) who had long targeted the event. 

The Kosciuszko 2026 is one of the most anticipated country racing events in Australia, bringing together the top country-trained horses from across New South Wales to compete for a lucrative multi-million-dollar prize at Royal Randwick. Held on the same program as The Everest, the 1200m feature has rapidly become a spring carnival highlight, providing regional trainers, owners, jockeys, and racing communities with a rare opportunity to shine on racing’s grandest stage. The race consistently attracts a deep and talented field, with country sprint specialists chasing both substantial prizemoney and a place in Australian racing history. At Races.com.au, punters can access the latest The Kosciuszko odds 2026, field updates, expert previews, form analysis, and comprehensive The Kosciuszko betting 2026 information ahead of one of the most popular and fiercely contested races of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

2026 The Kosciuszko Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 The Kosciuszko results and finishing order on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Winning Margin: 0.15 lengths

Winning Time: 1:09.41

The 2026 The Kosciuszko results at Randwick on Saturday saw lightly raced mare Chains Of Love ($5) deliver a career-defining victory, overcoming a tough wide run to claim the lucrative country feature over 1200m. The four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible, prepared by Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich and ridden by Zac Lloyd, settled four and five wide throughout before showing tremendous grit in the straight to edge out Band Of Brothers by a head, with race favourite So You Pence a length away in third. Messara revealed the mare had been specifically targeted at the race for some time and praised her ability to overcome the difficult run in transit, while Lloyd credited the training team for presenting her first-up in peak condition and said her toughness and ability to build through her gears were the keys to victory. The win continued a rapid rise for the progressive mare, who has now won four of her seven starts and boosted her earnings beyond $1.1 million after adding The Kosciuszko crown to her growing résumé.

2026 The Kosciuszko Race Replay

Chains Of Love grinds down Band Of Brothers to win The Kosciuszko!

The Messara/Gavranich team go back-to-back ??@ZacLloydX @Paulmessara @LGavranich pic.twitter.com/mRHgcGAjdP

— 7HorseRacing ? (@7horseracing) October 17, 2026

2026 The Kosciuszko Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest The Kosciuszko 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

2026 The Kosciuszko Tips

Stay tuned for our insider The Kosciuszko 2026 Tips on the lucrative country-horse only showdown on The Everest Day.

Favourite: No. 10 So You Pence

Each Way Danger: No. 2 Chidiac

Best Roughie: No. 14 Cruizingthestars

The Kosciuszko is one of the recent additions to the Sydney Spring Racing Calendar, the Special Conditions feature held on The Everest Day at Royal Randwick each October.

Contested for the first time in 2018, The Kosciuszko race is open only to NSW or ACT Country-trained horses and is the most lucrative of its kind offering $2 million in prize money.

Taking place in Sydney on the same day Melbourne hosts the Caulfield Cup, The Kosciuszko is a set weights plus penalties event that is now a hugely popular target for the provincially trained sprints from around the state.

Members of the public are able to purchase tickets in The Kosciuszko Sweep that gives them a chance to select an eligible horse to take part in the event, the field size for which increased from 12 to 14 in 2019.

Winning ticket holders from the subsequent The Kosciuszko Calcutta Draw, which harks back to the traditions of bush racing, then have the opportunity to part-own a horse in the race that is selected at random.

The Kosciuszko 2026
Date:	Saturday, October 17, 2026
Track:	Royal Randwick Racecourse
Distance:	1200m
Race Type:	Set Weights + Penalties; NSW & ACT Country-trained horses only
Status:	Special Condition
Prize Money:	$2 million

2026 The Kosciuszko Betting

The Kosciuszko 2026 betting odds and links to the latest prices at Ladbrokes will be available here at Races.com.au as soon as all-in markets on the event open.

It’s Me ($2 in 2020), Art Cadeau ($4 in 2021) and Clear Thinking ($3.70 in 2025) are the latest favourites in The Kosciuszko betting to salute for the punters.

2026 The Kosciuszko Form Guide

The Kosciuszko form guide is an essential tool for punters analysing one of Australia’s richest country racing events. Run over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick on The Everest Day, The Kosciuszko is restricted to eligible NSW country-trained horses and consistently attracts a talented field of regional sprinting stars. The form guide provides detailed information on each runner’s recent performances, barrier draw, jockey and trainer combinations, track and distance statistics, prizemoney records, and current betting market movements. By studying The Kosciuszko form guide, punters can identify the country gallopers with the right mix of class, speed, and form to perform on the big stage in Sydney.

What Punters Should Look for in The Kosciuszko Form Guide:

• 1200m form – Proven performances over the sprint distance are a key indicator of success in The Kosciuszko.
• Country feature race credentials – Horses that have performed well in major country cups and feature sprints often bring strong form into the race.
• Metropolitan form lines – Runners with competitive performances in city-grade races can hold an advantage against exclusively country opposition.
• Randwick experience – Previous success at Royal Randwick can be valuable, particularly given the step up in class and atmosphere for many runners.
• Barrier draw – A suitable gate can help horses secure a favourable position in what is often a fast-run 1200m contest.
• Recent form and fitness – Horses arriving off wins or consistent recent performances generally deserve close attention.
• Trainer and jockey combinations – Leading country stables and experienced metropolitan riders often play a significant role in the outcome.
• Track conditions – Assess whether runners have a preference for firm, soft, or heavy tracks, especially if rain is forecast.
• Speed map – Identifying the likely leaders and tempo can help determine which runners are likely to get the best race shape.
• Big-race experience – Horses that have competed successfully in high-pressure feature races may be better equipped to handle the occasion.
• Market support – Significant moves in the latest The Kosciuszko odds 2026 can provide valuable clues about stable confidence and betting sentiment.
• Country Championship and regional form – Strong performances in prestigious NSW country races can be a useful guide when assessing the field’s overall quality.
• Finishing strength – Horses capable of sustaining a strong finish over the final 200m are often well suited to the competitive nature of The Kosciuszko.

FULL 2026 THE KOSCIUSZKO FORM GUIDE

2026 The Kosciuszko Field

The confirmed The Kosciuszko 2026 field of NSW and ACT country-trained horses, including those selected by the winning ticket holders from The Kosciuszko sweep, will be detailed below as soon as available.

Horses in the 14-starter The Kosciuszko field are able to be “swapped-out” for alternative runners right up until race day morning.

The 2026 The Kosciuszko final field features a capacity line-up of class country-trained gallopers led narrowly in betting at time of publish by the Matthew Dale-trained So You Think mare So You Pence racing first-up and out to improve on her fifth in the race last year.

2026 The Kosciuszko Nominations

Nominations for The Kosciuszko 2026 will be detailed here once confirmed.

The Kosciuszko History

The Kosciuszko was first run in 2018 and won by Belflyer who failed in his attempt at back-to-back wins, in the way super sprinter Redzel (2017, 2018) won the opening two editions of The Everest, finishing dead last (14th) in his title defense behind Handle The Truth in 2019.

In 2020 It’s Me saluted for the punters as the $2 favourite in The Kosciuszko results, as did the well-backed Art Cadeau ($4) in 2021.

The Kosciuszko prize money was increased to $2 million ahead of the 2022 edition.

In 2022 and 2023 Front Page went back-to-back to become the first dual The Kosciuszko winner.

Front Page returned aiming for a three-peat in 2024 only to get run down late by the 2023 third placed Far Too Easy.

Clear Thinking (2025) won The Kosciuszko saluting for the punters as the first-up favourite for her Scone based trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.

Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich secured back-to-back wins when Chains Of Love (2026) became the latest The Kosciuszko winning mare.

Past The Kosciuszko Winners

Previous The Kosciuszko winners going back to the race’s inauguration in 2018 are detailed below.

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 The Kosciuszko	1st	Chains Of Love	1 minute 9.41 seconds
	2nd	Band Of Brothers
	3rd	So You Pence
2025 The Kosciuszko	1st	Clear Thinking	1 minute 8.48 seconds
	2nd	Gallant Star
	3rd	Chidiac
2024 The Kosciuszko	1st	Far Too Easy	1 minute 8.83 seconds
	2nd	Front Page
	3rd	Tanglewood
2023 The Kosciuszko	1st	Front Page	1 minute 8.04 seconds
	2nd	Opal Ridge
	3rd	Far Too Easy
2022 The Kosciuszko	1st	Front Page	1 minute 10.12 seconds
	2nd	Far Too Easy
	3rd	Fender
2021 The Kosciuszko	1st	Art Cadeau	1 minute 10.07 seconds
	2nd	Handle The Truth
	3rd	Spiranac
2020 The Kosciuszko	1st	It’s Me	1 minute 9.60 seconds
	2nd	Redouble
	3rd	Man Of Peace
2019 The  Kosciuszko	1st	Handle The Truth	1 minute 8.21 seconds
	2nd	Victorem
	3rd	Bobbing
2018 The  Kosciuszko	1st	Belflyer	1 minute 12.01 seconds
	2nd	Suncraze
	3rd	Awesome Pluck

The Kosciuszko FAQs