Kosciuszko: Todd Howlett keeps faith with his big chance

On Friday, Front Page was scratched after injuries in a float mishap and It's Me was "passed suitable to race" by stewards following blood tests and an endoscopic examination. It's Me, a $2.20 favourite with the TAB, had been in doubt for the race after mucus was found in a scope on Wednesday.

All the while, Two Big Fari has enjoyed a low-key build up for his Lower Belford trainer. As short as $7 in early markets, Two Big Fari was $16 despite drawing well in six.

Confident of attracting a slot-holder, Howlett had long planned to produce Two Big Fari first-up for the sprint.

Howlett said on Friday that nothing had changed his belief in his tough, on-pace runner which has won six of nine career starts and missed a place just once, when fifth in the Country Championship final (1400m).

"Nothing has changed my mind," Howlett said. "It's Me has done a really good job and come out and won, and mine hasn't raced for a while and it's sort of been forgotten about, but it's good. The price gets better."

Howlett has focused on keeping Two Big Fari fresh and sharp for the 1200m race.

"I think it's all worked well," he said. "We've given him two trials and I couldn't be happier going into it.

"I know it's probably his toughest test to date, but he's done a good job so far and I'm sure he will again tomorrow."

He believed the draw in six was "ideal for him" and he hoped he'd settle close to expected leaders Man Of Peace and Fender.

"Mine is a tough horse, a bit of a bulldog and he likes it up on the speed and a bit of a fight," he said. "I think he's a horse who wants 1400 to a mile and the thing has been to keep him fresh, and I think it's worked.

"It's no easy race but my horse is a good horse too and I don't know how good yet. This will be a good test."

Scone trainer Brett Cavanough holds the strongest hand in the race with It's Me and Fender ($8.50). Newcastle jockeys Louise Day (Man Of Peace) and Andrew Gibbons (Ligulate) also feature.

Meanwhile, Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will for the first time not have a runner in the $15 million Everest but he's eyeing the consolation race, the Sydney Stakes (1200m), with Special Reward and Tactical Advantage. They are emergencies for the main event but Lees was happy to be in the $500,000 race.

"They are probably better off in that race than the Everest to be fair," Lees said.

"They are both more than capable. One will be forward and one will be back, and I think they will both run good."

He hoped the addition of blinkers would help Special Reward bounce back from fifth in the Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle a month ago.

"He probably raced a bit flat on the back-up, up to 1500, but he's freshened up nicely for this race," he said.

Lees has had Clearly Innocent (2017), Le Romain, Graff (2018) and In Her Time (2018-19) in the Everest.