CLEAR THINKING IS TOO GOOD AS TYLER SCHILLER LANDS HIS THIRD KOSCIUSZKO

By Graham Potter | Saturday, October 18, 2025

Clear Thinking, a very lightly raced six-year-old mare, scored a superb victory in the $2 million The Kosciuszko for the training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, in the process given jockey Tyler Schiller his third success in the race.

“He (Tyler) summed it up beautifully,” said Messara. “I didn’t want to give him too many instructions. I just thought he would have to see what was going to happen in the first 200m … and he made all the right calls, so well done to him.

“She is a great horse with plenty of upside … and we will be targeting bigger races in the future.”

Schiller’s past the post salute in the saddle showed just how much he enjoyed another notable Kosciuszko moment.

“She probably had the benefit of having a light weight today, but Paul’s a great trainer. He knows his horse.

“She had a big spell there. Blinkers on … fast run race … it all suited her perfectly but, to her credit, she had to take a few tight runs and she burst through with plenty left.

‘She’s always had to do it tough, especially in stakes grade. She’s run some terrific races there. I’m sure she can come and make amends with that next prep. I think she can definitely knock off a bit of Black Type.”

Clear Thinking, who was first-up after a seven month break from race action, topped the betting boards at $3.70 courtesy of her impressive credentials, being a winner of four of her six previous starts.

Schiller previously won back-to-back Kosciuszko’s aboard Front Page in 2022 and 2023.

Front Page was in the line-up again here … seemingly looming as a real threat pre-race to Schiller’s Kosciuszko treble ambitions (Front Page was a clear second favourite at $4.40), but this was not to be Front Page’s year … he was prominent for a long way, but weakened to finish in sixth place

Gallant Star ($5.50) and Chidiac (#31) finished second and third respectively.

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