The Danny Williams-trained Prairie Fire has been promoted into the field for $1.3 million The Kosciuszko following the scratching of Front Page due to a float mishap.
Front Page, who was one of the fancied runners, became fractious in the horse float during his trip to Sydney and suffered injuries to an eye and his off hind leg, forcing his withdrawal.
He has been replaced in the field by Prairie Fire, who was beaten six lengths by Everest contender Classique Legend in The Shorts two starts ago and finished within two lengths of Blazing Miss in a benchmark race at Randwick last Saturday.
Prairie Fire will represent the slot held by the William Farrer Hotel in Wagga Wagga and will jump from barrier eight.
Kosciuszko favourite It’s Me has been cleared to take her place after returning normal blood test results.
The Brett Cavanough-trained four-year-old had been in some doubt after a scope earlier this week revealed slight traces of mucus.
However, It’s Me has responded well to treatment and an endoscopic examination on Friday confirmed the mucus had cleared.
She is a clear cut $2.20 favourite with TAB fixed odds, ahead of last year’s winner Handle The Truth at $7.50.
Prairie Fire has been inserted at $41.
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