High hopes for It's Me at The Kosciuszko

It's Me damaged a tendon when she won The Kosciuszko last October at just her fourth start and hasn't raced since.

This year's edition of the race for country-trained horses will be run over 1200 metres at Randwick on October 16.

"She's been back here three weeks, she's been out working on the course proper and she's progressing nicely," Cavanough said.

"Obviously coming back from a tendon injury she's a day-to-day horse, but, look, she's been reefing for a bit of rein in her work.

"Her head's in the right place, she's physically fit and she had seven weeks of rehab work before she came back to the stable, so she's got a big base of fitness.

"Hundred per cent I can get her to the race. You have to allow for a little hiccup - anything can happen with horses, so you've got to be careful - but I'm really happy with where she's at.

"She's all going in the right direction."

Cavanough said It's Me could have a race start ahead of The Kosciuszko - or go into the event first-up.

"There's no hard plan," he said.

"If she comes to hand really quick we could do anything. Once I've had her do enough work she'll tell us exactly where we're at with her.

"There's nothing wrong with my strike-rate first-up, if that's what we end up doing."

It's Me is unbeaten in her four-race career and Cavanough said it was a great thrill to have her back in the stable.

"For sure, when you get a mare as good as her," he said.

"Good horses lick the feed tin out and cop their work and that's exactly what she does."

Punters who buy $5 tickets in The Kosciuszko slot draw via the TAB app or website can end up having a horse run for them.

The 14 lucky slot-holders who emerge from the draw on September 9 pick a galloper and do a deal with its connections on a share of the prizemoney.

Cavanough hopes to have multiple runners in the event. Fender is also a big chance of getting there again after running a close-up seventh to his stablemate in last year's The Kosciuszko.

"He's got to be a top-five pick," Cavanough said.

"He's stakes-placed in a Ramornie Handicap and his recent run in Sydney was great.

"He's a good, honest horse and every time he's gone to black type level he's only been beaten a couple of lengths. He picks himself - you don't have to do much with Fender."

But there's no doubt that It's Me is Cavanough's top seed.

She is currently the $4.50 favourite in TAB fixed odds betting on the race.

"Obviously with her times and sectionals, yeah, she's number one for sure,' he said.

The Kosciuszko race is a 1200 metre sprint contest run under set weights and penalties conditions at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 16. The race is restricted to NSW country and ACT trained horses only.