A campaign to get a Moruya-trained horse into the "Melbourne Cup of Country Racing" is picking up momentum online.
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Thorotek Racing, owned and operated by Luke and Natalie Jarvis, is pushing to have its horse Kattegat selected in The Kosciuszko at Randwick Racecourse on October 16.
The five-year-old Gelding has five wins in his career to this point, including back-to-back wins at Moruya and Forbes on July 12 and August 1 respectively.
The Kosciuszko runs on the same day as The Everest, and is only open to horses trained at country stables.
The field is chosen by a random ballet after punters buy tickets through the TAB.
Once the winners are selected, each winner has a period of time to negotiate prizemoney and other benefits with trainers across the country for their horse to be picked.
Thorotek has several prizes on offer if a winning ticket picks Kattegat for the race, including VIP racing tickets to three meets at Moruya Jockey Club, five night's accommodation in Temora, four nights in Merimbula, and a four-day hire of a motor home.
One of the owners of Kattegat has also offered to have the Thorotek logo tattooed on a body part of the winner's choice.
Trainer Luke Jarvis said just about every stable in the state was trying to get a horse into the $1.3m race.
"Kattegat's doing really well at the moment, and he's around the horses who are the favourites in the market," he said.
"We've got a few prizes on offer, which something no one has really come up with before, and it's got quite a bit of publicity.
"They did a story in the Daily Telegraph the other weekend, it's got some traction on social media as well.
"He's been nicknamed 'The Moruya Marve' which has kind of stuck."
Jarvis said having a Moruya-trained horse in the field would help increase the profile of the Jockey Club.
"It'd be great for the local community," he said.
"We've got a new CEO and we're getting a lot of stuff done here at the club.
"There's some really great trainers down here in Moruya, and the racing is getting better all the time.
"We have races every weekend in Sydney called Highway Handicaps, and Moruya horses have had a few places in them.
"The Jockey Club is really supportive, we have access to the grass tracks whenever we need, and they're very good to work with."
Jarvis believes Kattegat would be "in with a show" if he is selected for the race.
"He's $26 with the TAB at the moment, so he's in the Top 14 horses in the market," he said.
"If he's picked, we know he'll give it his best and produce his booming sprint down the outside.
"He'll definitely be in with a show - the second favourite only beat him by about a head a few starts ago, so I think he's in with a good chance."
Tickets for The Kosciuszko can be purchased through the TAB app until the draw on September 9.
Joel Erickson
Twice weekly
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