Cavanough said ticket winner Ken Wright, from Newcastle, contacted him and quickly came to a deal on Star Boy for the race for country-trained gallopers.

The five-year-old gelding, a narrow second last start in the listed Ramornie Handicap, was $11 for the Kosciuszko with TAB.

After two strong trials, Star Boy will resume on Saturday in a benchmark 88 1100m handicap at Rosehill.

Cavanough said Star Boy could also have another run or trial before the Kosciuszko to make sure he was ready.

"He'll have a spin around and get a base of fitness on him," Cavanough said of Saturday's race. "All of a sudden they all think they're Aidan O'Brien and want to run first-up into the Kosciuszko, but we'll make sure it's a high-pressure race.

"He'll be tested, he's not going [to Rosehill] to be a flower girl. He's going there to have a crack."

The trainer was also hopeful Syd's Footprints picking up a slot after his win at Scone on Monday. Victorem, Noble Boy, Suncraze, Handle The Truth, Belflyer, Don't Give A Damn and Tarbert had picked up slots as of Thursday, leaving six available.

"He's probably in there with the second-tier horses," Cavanough said. "If someone is fair dinkum and wants to take the punt, he's better than a lot of horses. I'd back him to beat Tarbert any day of the week and his work has been as good as Star Boy's from time to time."

"Last Wednesday they galloped in front of the camera and they ran pretty much the same time."