Danny Williams’ Kosciuszko pairing Bandi’s Boy and Highway Strip will take on two-time race winner Front Page and others in a must-see barrier trial at the conclusion of Tuesday’s seven-race Goulburn card.

The Galaxy winning trainer can make the case for both horses to win the $2 million sprint, the TAB has 2024 ATC Star Kingdom Stakes winner Bandi’s Boy priced at $15 and Highway Strip $26.

“So far everything really is going to plan,” Williams reported.

“We are a lot happier that we don’t have to push to race them having been selected very early. “It has given us an opportunity to train them how we would like.

“Sometimes when you have got Kosciuszko-type horses, you tend to try and want to put them out there.”

Bandi’s Boy was beaten 10 lengths in last year’s Kosciuszko but with excuses.

His preparation this year has taken him further from home and up against some serious Group performers.

“We sent him to Melbourne and he just raced two or three lengths flat and we’ve needed all this time to freshen him back up and I think he’s back to his best and I expect he should be really ready to run Saturday week,” Williams.

“The other horse (Highway Strip) is really well.

“You saw him trial the other day, it was a very impressive trial.”

An important hitout for @GoulburnTrainer‘s two runners in #TheKosciuszko as Highway Strip wins an 800m race day trial at @goulburnraces in 45.77 with Bandi’s Boy in third place. They were split by stablemate Chemtrail. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/mNKpcw9Kp1

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 25, 2025

 

Williams will be represented in an intriguing last race on Tuesday by his 2024 Kosciuszko participant Kreon who hasn’t managed a win since start three of 14.

Kreon has shed his share of admirers in time since his stunning debut win at Gundagai on Snake Gully Cup day but Williams has a message to those thinking of abandoning the Arrowfield bred galloper – keep the faith.

“He is back in class quite a bit,” Williams said.

“Sometimes with Highway-horses, you don’t want to be throwing away a race worth $120,000 compared to a normal race worth $27,000 but we are bringing him back to try and get a bit of confidence with him – and the owners.

“He ran in a 1000m race last start and he was looking for a lot further.

“His best run last preparation was at the end of his prep over 1300m where he ran fifth.

“He threw both front shoes and pulled up very lame so we are back to that trip again.

“I do believe he has always shown that he is crying out for a bit further than the 1200m so 1300m seems to be ideal for him.

“But he is the type of horse that we wouldn’t like the track too hard for him once the last comes along.”

 

Kreon will be ridden by Chad Schofield as will Williams in-form gelding Manwari, who took nine starts to win but is suddenly on a hat-trick.

“He’s got as much ability as most horses I have got but he just lacks determination sometimes,” Williams said.

Not so last start when the son of Menari dropped his rivals with a burst of acceleration in his Class 1 assignment.

“Blaike McDougall hopped off him and said he hasn’t ridden one for quite a while that was going to win so far from home.

“So he was super impressed and thought he had a bit more to give.”

For the record, Schofield is heading south to Goulburn as opposed to north to Newcastle today, not only but mostly given his Kosciuszko booking for Highway Strip, as Williams explained.

“A few weeks ago we said you can ride him in the Kosciuszko if you come down to ride him in a trial, we’ll give you a few rides on race day and make a day of it,” Williams said.