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A front-running ride with intent from Tyler Schiller has earned him and classy sprinter Front Page a piece of history at Randwick as the first horse and jockey to claim the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) back-to-back.
Front Page ($5.50) clocked a race record 1:08.04 as he cruised to a 1-3/4 length win over the favourite Opal Ridge ($2.80) with last year's runner-up Far Too Easy ($7.50) coming from the back to fill third placing.
The gelding handed Goulburn trainer Matthew Dale his first Kosciuszko and there was a special moment after the race when his previous trainer Geoff Duryea greeted Dale and Schiller to congratulate them.
"I can't thank the owners and obviously Matt (Dale) enough,'' Schiller said.
"Geoff has done a great job to give Matt all the knowledge about the horse, I know he's not easy but gee he's done a terrific job to get him here in that order and to beat them like that he's a cracker."
Schiller arrived at Randwick with only one plan of attack on his mind he pounced on the lead virtually as the gates opened.
From there the seven-year-old always looked in control.
"He got control of the race very easy this year,'' Schiller said.
"I thought he quickened well from the top of the straight and then he just kept building, he felt like he never stopped.
"Last year he felt like he was a little bit reluctant to go and there were a few chasing but not this year he put them away very easy.
"I know he's always shown it. He went on from the Kossie last year and went close in Group 1s without being too far off them. He's always had the ability and tries his guts out."
The win of Front Page was a huge result for Garry Dyson, the Kosciuszko slot winner who bought his ticket in Goulburn and had no hesitation in selecting the defending champion.
Dale, who also had Cavalier Charles in the Kosciuszko, paid tribute to the retired Geoff Duryea for selecting him to train Front Page and giving him a huge head start when it came to getting to know the horse.
"Geoff and the team, what they've done with this horse before getting him to me, I'm in awe,'' Dale said.
"They told me every little thing I needed to know so that I could be well prepped and have him as good as I could here today.
"It's been a little bit stressful, the last few weeks, but wow what a win.
"Geoff did a remarkable job with this horse his whole career. I came up to Geoff this time last year and congratulated him on how well he presented the horse.
"He handed me the keys 14 weeks ago, we had a few chats about how to prepare him and what he needs and we nailed it."
There were no excuses for the runner-up Opal Ridge, with jockey James Mcdonald saying she simply ran into a better horse on the day.
