TAMWORTH trainer Cody Morgan is hopeful he will get a chance to compete in this year's $1 million The Kosciusko.
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However, a potential Kosciuszko run would not be with his 2019 Highway Handicap winner Pat's Nipper or 2019 Tamworth Cup winner Unbiased.
Instead, Over and Above will feature in Morgan's preparations for the coveted event.
"He has won in Melbourne and Adelaide in the past, so he already has that bit of a profile," Morgan told the Leader.
"I'm lucky enough to train several horses owned by the Australian Blood Stock syndicate, which he is a part of.
"I've only had him for one run so far, which he came third in, but I think he might hopefully be on the mind of a few ticket holders once the tickets are drawn on September 10."
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Morgan said Over and Above would have to impress in his two preparation runs, the first of which is at Scone on September 9.
"We were looking to give him a run in Tamworth on the ninth, but the meeting had to be relocated to Scone," he said.
"At any rate, I think he will probably have to impress in those couple of runs before the ticket holders start making their decisions.
"In my opinion, the first four or five horses selected by the ticket holders are pretty obvious, but since they extended the field to 14 runners it has opened it up to more outside chances.
"Last year's winner Belflyer was an outsider and I'm confident at his best, [Over and Above] could be an outsider that wins this year."
Morgan's push for Over and Above comes after fellow Tamworth trainers Mel O'Gorman (Suncraze) and Sue Grills (Burning Crown) signalled their intentions.
"I think it's great that several trainers from around our area are given this kind of opportunity," Morgan said.
"I'd say Over and Above, Suncraze, Burning Crown and Michelle Fleming's The Lion would be the main chances, but we'll have to wait and see."
As for Unbiased and Pat's Nipper, Morgan said he had other plans in mind for them.
"Unbiased is in the paddock at the moment after coming second in the Townsville Cup," he said.
"As for Pat's Nipper, he's also in the paddock and we are probably eyeing off a Country Championships run for him early next year."
Morgan said Racing NSW deserved "a lot of credit" for the opportunities it presented to regional trainers.
"I'd say we are going through a mining boom in racing of sorts," he said.
"There's just so many high-earning races available at the moment, so it is a good time to be a country trainer, that's for sure."