Hay fever grips with Kozzie golden ticket

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 10, 2026

Marty Hay from Gundagai has won a coveted entry into The Kosciuszko, a $2 million country race at Royal Randwick, and selected his own horse, Love Shuck, to compete in the 1200-meter event. With over 210,000 entries in the draw, Hay’s choice of Love Shuck, who recently placed third at Randwick, is seen as a strong contender in one of Australia’s most popular country races.

Marty Hay, a racing enthusiast from Gundagai, has won a coveted entry into The Kosciuszko, a $2 million country race held on The Everest day at Royal Randwick on October 17. The victory grants Hay the rare opportunity to select a horse to compete in the 1200-meter event, one of the country’s premier racing fixtures.

Hay received confirmation of his winning ticket from Scott Kennedy of Racing NSW on Wednesday, after earlier hearing a buzz from across his community suggesting someone local had secured the spot. Initially skeptical, Hay’s excitement grew as the reality of the win set in. “You don’t expect things like this to happen,” he said.

Without hesitation, Hay chose Love Shuck, a six-year-old gelding trained by Todd Smart and part-owned by Hay himself, as his entrant. Love Shuck had recently earned a strong third-place finish at Randwick, a result that proved profitable for Hay. He placed a $100 bet on the horse to place, which paid out at an enhanced rate and yielded a $3,000 return. Hay said he reinvested those winnings into purchasing tickets that ultimately secured his place in the race.

The horse is currently listed at $26 in The Kosciuszko betting markets, and both owner and trainer have expressed confidence in its chances. Hay also confirmed that jockey Sairyn Fawke, who regularly rides Love Shuck during training, will take the reins in the upcoming race. “We are a loyal bunch out here at Gundagai,” Hay said, emphasizing the connection between the team and the rider.

The Kosciuszko draw attracted over 210,000 entries, highlighting the race’s popularity within the Australian racing community. Despite this, Hay maintained that Love Shuck is a strong contender. “We won’t be making up the numbers either,” he said. “He’s a very good horse and Todd will have him trained to the minute.”

Other confirmed runners for The Kosciuszko include Graceful Ellen (trained by Peter Joseph of Bombala), Band of Brothers (Jessica Tillett, Murwillumbah), Considered (Peter Yammine, Minto), and So You Pence (from Tattersalls Hotel, Inverell). The event remains one of the most anticipated country races leading into Australia’s premier race day.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.