It was supposed to be the perfect Kosciuszko audition - a Washington Towers win in the Federal Handicap at Queanbeyan.
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But if the coronavirus doesn't get you, the rain will - forcing Tuesday's meeting at Queanbeyan to be abandoned.
Canberra trainer Todd Smart has set his sights on getting two entries into the $1.3 million Kosciuszko (1200 metres), to run at Randwick on October 16.
With the draw to decide which lucky punters get slots in the race held on Thursday, Smart had hoped a Washington Towers ($51) salute in the Federal - making it three wins on the trot - would be the perfect advertisement.
But now the five-year-old gelding will run at either Dubbo on Sunday or at Moruya the day after.
"That always pinpointed for a first-up hopefully win before the tickets were drawn," Smart said.
"These things happen. We have to change tack now ... we've got to weigh our options up.
"The perfect race would've been today leading into the draw."
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Smart also has Tobermory ($26) set for the Kosciuszko, where the winning slot holders get to pick which horse represents them in the feature race for country horses.
He'll run at Goulburn on Saturday, looking for his second win in as many starts this preparation.
The seven-year-old gelding's trying to put a horror 18 months behind him where a blood problem saw him given a year-and-a-half in the paddock to recover.
"He's always showed me a lot of ability. But the whole preparation he just wasn't right and putting weight on, he wasn't eating and we found out he had a blood problem which made his guts no good," Smart said.
"Then his last couple of starts last preparation it was just getting worse and worse.
"We couldn't find out what was going on and we decided to give him 12 months off and, not forget about him, but just see if he fixes himself ... and now he's come back a different horse."
Smart's confident both are city class horses, which was why he's set them for the Kosciuszko.
The only problem? Only two Canberra horses can make the field of the $1.3 million race.
Given fellow Canberra trainers Keith Dryden and Matthew Dale have 2019 winner Handle The Truth ($9) and Man Of Peace ($26) in the mix respectively for the feature race, two could be a tough ask.
"How it is, there's only two spots for Canberra horses. Obviously you've got Matt Dale's, you've got Keith Dryden's," Smart said.
"Look, one will do, but if we get both of them in that'd be great.
"I reckon they'd be very big chances in the race, both of them. Let's hope someone buys a ticket and gives us a go."