Clear Thinking, a very lightly raced six-year-old mare, scored a superb victory in the $2 million The Kosciuszko for the training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, in the process giving jockey Tyler Schiller his third success in the race.
Trainer Paul Messara gave jockey Tyler Schiller a simple instruction for the $2 million The Kosciuszko: “See what happens in the first 200 metres.” What happened next was a tactical masterclass that saw the lightly raced mare Clear Thinking ($3.70F) surge from an impossible position to deliver a commanding victory, securing a record-breaking third win in the country feature for the 27-year-old jockey.
The victory, achieved in front of a capacity crowd on Everest Day, was a vindication of the immense faith shown in the six-year-old mare, who was first-up from seven months, and in the sheer audacity of her rider.
Clear Thinking, co-trained by Messara and Leah Gavranich out of Scone, was tackling a capacity field of 14 of the best country-trained sprinters in New South Wales. The 1200-metre sprint was defined by the barrier draw. Clear Thinking was saddled with gate 13, a notoriously difficult starting point for a race known for its furious pace.
The market, however, remained bullish, trusting her unbeaten fresh record (four wins from four attempts) and the featherweight of 53.5kg. As the gates crashed back, the race immediately settled into the predicted genuine, high-speed tempo.
The two-time winner Front Page, and the talented Highway Strip immediately pressed the accelerator, ensuring a testing run for every horse in the field. For Schiller, a product of the NSW country circuit who now ranks as one of Sydney’s premier riders, the wide draw necessitated an immediate decision. Rather than being forced to travel three or four wide early, burning crucial energy, Schiller elected to drop the mare back, conserving her power for the crucial final stages.
By the 800m mark, Clear Thinking was settled on the rail, patiently tracking runners in the second half of the field. “She had a great run in transit from the wide draw and she dashed when she needed to,” Schiller explained post-race.
“She’s probably braver than me, I pointed her in the right direction, the speed was really genuine which helped.”
The Home Turn and the Critical Split
The tempo up front ensured that the leaders began to wilt as the field turned for home. Gallant Star, ridden by Zac Lloyd, emerged as the main threat, seizing the lead with a sharp turn of foot at the 350m mark. But Clear Thinking remained boxed in, several horses back, searching desperately for clean air. Schiller noted the difficulty in executing the planned run: “I tracked up to the corner and seemed to run into a few dead ends.”
This moment—the 300-metre mark, where the field funnels into the final push—is where champion riders earn their reputations. Finding the necessary split requires a blend of nerve, timing, and an intimate knowledge of the horse underneath.
At 27, and with two previous Kosciuszko trophies to his name, Schiller showed the temperament of a veteran. He spotted a fleeting gap on the inside, a passage that demanded total commitment. With minimal room, Schiller asked Clear Thinking to accelerate. The mare responded instantly, shooting through the narrow opening and unleashing a devastating turn of foot that few expected from a horse resuming from a seven-month layoff.
“To her credit, she’s got a great turn of foot, so she didn’t need the room to the outside, once she got out she was far too sharp,” Schiller remarked. In just 150 metres, Clear Thinking bridged the gap to the front-runners. She swept past Gallant Star and claimed the lead in the shadow of the post, winning by a strong length in a time of 1:08.48. Gallant Star held on for second by a short head from the closing Chidiac.
A Historic Achievement for the Young Gun
The victory cemented Tyler Schiller’s unique connection with the $2 million race. The young jockey, one of the most exciting prospects in NSW racing, now holds a commanding lead in Kosciuszko history.
“It seems to be a little bit of a trend for me winning this one, I’ve had a bit of luck with it that’s for sure,” he said with a smile after the win.
“I missed it last year, but it was great to be back amongst it this year and add another win for myself in this race.”
Messara heaped praise on his jockey’s decision-making: “He (Tyler) summed it up beautifully. He made all the right calls, so well done to him.”
The trainer was equally complimentary of the mare’s preparation. “She’s a great horse with plenty of upside,” Messara added, confirming plans to target ‘Black Type’ races in the future.
Schiller, though thrilled, was typically modest about his personal role. “She’s a quality, progressive mare, the Messara team and Leah (Gavranich) have done a great job with her, I definitely can’t take too much credit.”
The success of Clear Thinking, overcoming a wide draw and long layoff with the minimum weight, showcases the depth of talent outside the Sydney metropolitan area and provides a thrilling footnote to the richest day in Australian racing.
– Tully Potts
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