TWO Big Fari firmed in the betting for the October Kosciuszko at Randwick after his outstanding win at Grafton on Thursday.
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The gelding, trained by Lower Belford's Todd Howlett, overcame a wide barrier draw and tough run to whip a good field in the $50,000 Village Green Hotel Showcase Class 6 Handicap (1200m).
It was his ninth race start and most likely his most impressive of his six victories to date.
Sky Thoroughbred Central commentators Greg Radley, Priscilla Looker and Gary Kliese were entranced and enraptured with the storming run.
"He had a lot of work to do just to get across," Radley said.
"But, he had plenty in the tank."
Kliese reckoned he "climbed a mountain" to win that Class 6 in the style he did.
Howlett, who takes his horses to Muswellbrook for track work, was also greatly impressed by his galloper's brilliant and sustained effort.
"He's a real nice horse," he said after the enormous win.
"We don't know how good he really is.
"I'm just so proud of him.
"Every start we've asked him to step up and he's done it easily."
Two Big Fari was having his first run back from a good spell, too.
He had not raced since running a huge fifth to Gracie Belle in the Newhaven Park Country Championship Final at Randwick back in April.
He'd been caught wide throughout but was only beaten a half-length by Matt Dunn's winning mare.
On July 9, he was just as wide but surged to the front at the turn and defied any attempts to run him down.
"He'll have three weeks off now and then go again," Howlett said.
"Then hopefully he'll get a run in the Kosciuszko after a freshen."
Such was the authority of his win, Two Big Fari firmed from $15 to $11 in betting for the Kosciuszko with only Front Page ($4.50) and Handle The Truth ($7) ahead of him on the TAB market for the country feature at Randwick.