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There’s no other way to describe promising Northern Rivers galloper Parksville’s appearance at Kensington on Wednesday than as an audition for the $1.3m The Kosciuszko.
Trainer Brett Dodson has made no secret of the fact he believes the four-year-old is a real talent and if he's going to make a statement for selection in the world's richest country race, run at Randwick on October 16, it has to be in Sydney.
Parksville was originally going to resume in Brisbane but Dodson said a combination of the border closure, a missed trial and the desire to showcase him to NSW punters led him to kick off in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1100m).
"I was balloted out of a trial with him a few weeks ago so 1100m probably looked ideal,'' Dodson said.
"I had him all set for the Highway last Saturday and it just put me that little bit behind.
"I thought I'd rather go to Sydney, that's the place you want to be showcasing him if we're going to have any chance of getting him into the Kosciuszko. People can have a look at him and see how he goes against that class of horse."
The Coffs Harbour trainer said Parksville, a winner of his past three starts after debuting with a third place at Eagle Farm in December, has already shown signs he's come back a better horse this preparation but concedes he'll need to be.
He's very aware that he's jumping into the deep end somewhat by taking on a Benchmark race with a Class 3 country horse but to stand out among the Kosciuszko hopefuls he needs to show his wares.
"He's a very impressive horse and I think he's going to improve on what he did last time,'' Dodson said.
"He'll have further improvement as he fills into his body but he's good for what he is at the moment and he's going to have a good preparation.
"It's a matter of getting him into the Kosciuszko and I've based everything around that. It'd be nice if he can get down there and win a race and put himself on notice."
Parksville is a $26 chance in TAB's all-in Kosciuszko market and it's only a month until the 14 ticket winners are drawn from the $5 Kosciuszko tickets sold across NSW via TAB, with the draw taking place on September 9.
Dodson said since a runaway 6-1/2 length barrier trial win at Coffs Harbour back on July 24 the horse has noticeably tightened up and completed his final work on Saturday to the trainer's liking.
The gelding, $4 with TAB on Tuesday, has the outside alley for his Kosciuszko audition but that's preferable to Dodson than drawing one or two as he's a free-running type and shouldn't need to be bustled out to hold a position.
"If he drew 15 of 15 it'd be a concern but it's only 10 runners and he has plenty of gate speed and will roll forward,'' he said.
"If he doesn't lead he'll be outside the leader, he makes his own luck and he's got a good high cruising speed and kicks off the back of that.
"He's in against horses that have won five or six races and you're up against the Wallers and Mark Newnham, but I think he's a horse that can step up to that grade.
"But if he's going to be any hope of making these races we're setting him for he's probably got to do that.
"His fitness is coming along nicely, the race is the right distance and everything is right for him."
