The Kosciuszko and the $1.3 million in prizemoney it offers is now a possibility for Darren Hyde after Westlink destroyed a class field of sprinters at Dubbo Turf Club on Friday.
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Hyde admitted even he was surprised by the blitzing performance which came in Westlink's first start since running fifth in April's $500,000 Country Championships Final.
The Dubbo trainer opted to send Westlink around in Friday's Exchange Co Working Community Cup Sprint (1110m) as it seemed an easier step towards next month's $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup over 1600m.
But staying at the short distances and putting himself in the frame for 1200m country-only Kosciuszko feature in October will now be a real option.
"When he let go he put them to sleep pretty easy," Hyde told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.
"You'd have to put a question mark next to that (Kosciuszko) now.
"We'll sit down with the owners and put a plan together and see what we come up with."
That turned out to be the case but jockey Ashley Morgan and Westlink ($4.60) settled deep in the field as Over And Above ($6) led from Jetgirl ($8.50) and Larlabrook ($26).
Larlabrook pushed three wide as the field started to turn for home and appeared ready to launch a raid on the leader, while Morgan stuck to the rails and bided his time.
A gap soon open and the hoop produced a fine bit of weaving to get himself into open space and from there it was just a matter of how much he would win by.
In the end it was a two-and-half-length win from the fast-finishing Desert Marshall ($26) while Over And Above held on for third.
"I told Ash they'd probably run him off his feet early, it was a strong class of sprinters here," Hyde said.
Westlink provided Hyde with his only start of the day so that made the win more special while it was also the lone winner for jockey Morgan.
No trainer or jockey managed to land a double on Friday but there was plenty of success for hometown trainers.
Dar Lunn, Allan Gibson, and Clint Lundholm all managed to join Hyde in the winners' circle.