Racing: Edit makes Kosciusko statement with Spring Cup win

The Kosciuszko-bound gelding was impressive as he swallowed up a strong field that included Kosciuszko hopefuls Cassy's Sister and My Benalla, who was a short-priced favourite at $2.50, over the closing stages.

The run didn't go unnoticed by punters. Within half an hour, Edit had reportedly firmed in the betting for the October 16 race to equal second favourite.

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Among the first horses snapped up, it hasn't been a smooth build-up for the New Zealand bred five-year old, and speaking with Thoroughbred Central post-race, an emotional Morgan paid credit to his staff for their work to get him fit to race.

Three weeks ago, in what was supposed to be his Australian debut, Edit hit his head after becoming fractious in the tie-up stalls and required 30 stitches in his head.

"He was a different horse today out the back," Morgan said.

"My brother's (Luke Morgan) helped me immensely with him."

Morgan had said going into the meeting, a 'pass mark' for him would be top four. By the same token, he said he "wouldn't be shocked" if Edit did win.

"Trackwork - it's just okay," he told Thoroughbred Central.

"[But] Once he got in the enclosure today, I just said to Koby (jockey Koby Jennings), he looks like a man racing boys; he's a beast.

"Whether he come out and did, it's another thing."

There would have been some nervous moments when, coming into the straight, he was well back at the tail. But Jennings expertly weaved his way through the field, and once Edit hit the front he never looked like being beaten.

Morgan believes he is only going to be get better too.

Asked how much improvement he reckons he has in him, he replied "four or five lengths".

His only lament is that he isn't a "quieter horse" so they could "go along for the journey a bit more".

"He's going to keep us on our toes for the next three weeks," he quipped.

Jennings will make way for Hugh Bowman for the Kosciuszko, and like Morgan believes Edit has "plenty of improvement" in him.

He said the plan for Monday was to "ride him quiet" and "let him find his feet and let him dash home".

Quizzed on what he was thinking at the top of the straight, he said he knew the gaps "were going to come".

"I seen the horse to beat was a couple of lengths ahead of me and the gaps all started to pop up and I just landed right on her thumb and from then on we left her behind," Jennings said.

Cassy's Sister finished a gutsy second in what was a last throw of the dice from trainer Troy O'Neile for a Kosciuszko berth.

Ian Cook's Rexx was another half-a-length back third, the two fighting it out in front for much of the race.

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