16/09/2026
Wednesday,16 September 2026
Longmire Puts Arthur On Show For Last Minute Kosciuszko Berth
By Ray Hickson
Trainer Lucy Longmire hasn’t given up hope of promising galloper Oh Arthur “getting in the back door” and claiming a last minute place in The Kosciuszko when he attempts a hat-trick at Randwick on Saturday.
There is one spot remaining in the 14 horse field for the $2 million race on TAB Everest Day.
All 14 places were taken up by last Friday, just two days after the ticket draw to decide the public slot holders, but one opened up following the withdrawal earlier in the week of Inazuma Boy.
Longmire says the gelding is there in the TAB Highway (1000m) to make a statement.
He’s been an all the way winner in both starts since a year off the scene and drops from an 1100m Benchmark 78 win, where he drew the outside and held off Kimberley Secrets, to Class 3 Highway level where he carries 62kg.
“That’s exactly why we’re running him with the weight,’’ Longmire said.
“He’s ticking over waiting to get that slot, hopefully someone snaps him up because he’d definitely be in the finish.
“He’s very strong at the moment, he looks amazing and he hasn’t faltered since his last run. He looks better actually.
“With the timing of the Kosciuszko he’ll be cherry ripe.”
Oh Arthur, $3.60 with TAB on Wednesday, had a gap of seven weeks between runs following his Canterbury win first-up at $26 and his Rosehill win three weeks ago as a $15 chance.
He made his debut at last year’s Grafton carnival and in the meantime had issues with lameness and behavioural issues that saw him make jockey Adrian Layt’s life dramatic for a few seconds when he reared prior to a trial at the start of his campaign.
The Goulburn trainer said he showed with his last start win that he’s putting it all together.
“Now it’s like all the hard work is done, he knows what he’s got to do,’’ she said.
“In the benchmark race when he came back a bit (under Adrian) that told me he’ll be fine at the 1200m if we get to the Kosciuszko.
“It’d be life changing stuff for all of us.”
The gelding jumps from barrier four in the TAB Highway and Longmire said that’s ideal, and nobody knows him better than Layt.
It’ll be an interesting couple of days for Layt who rides Tainui at 54kg in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Friday then 8kg more on Oh Arthur.
“He will have an easy run, he’s nice and fresh and ready to go,’’ she said.
“Adrian knows him, poor Adrian he’s got to carry 54kg on Friday and 62kg on Saturday.
“He’s been very solid with us so we’re sticking solid with him. He’s a good fellow, he’s had a hard time in the past and all of us deserve a break.”
fans
