Bush star Know Thyself claimed a second feature for the autumn with a gritty win the Listed The Coast at Gosford
The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich -trained gelding backed up his $1 million Country Championships victory last month with an impressive win in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m).
It was Know Thyself 's fourth win in succession this preparation and solidifies his standing among the state's best country gallopers.
He was left in front a long way from home but his quality shone through to capture the main event on Gosford stand-alone day.
'It was a tough win today,' Messara said.
'I thought the leader really ran along at a good clip and we planned to sit where we did.
'That went to plan but the winner went at a solid number so I thought he was really good to hold them off.
'We just got the blinkers on him and I just wonder if he waited for them to come up to him before he kicked on but he certainly held them at bay and it was a lovely ride by Ash (Morgan).'
Morgan, who has enjoyed a career best start to 2025 that included a maiden Group 1 aboard Private Harry, took bad luck out of the equation from barrier 10 and settled outside the lead.
Pacesetter Townsend ($10) made sure it was a genuinely run affair but Know Thyself had his measure from the top of the straight.
Know Thyself gave his rivals something to catch but held the Annabel and Rob Archibald -trained Depth Of Character ($4.60) to a length margin with Chris Waller 's Mare Of Mt Buller ($9) in third.
Know Thyself makes it four on the trot and wins The Coast! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @Paulmessara | @LGavranich pic.twitter.com/UpqfNMhL8v
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025
• Gai goes back to future with fourth Gosford Gold Cup
'I got to Rach (King on Townsend) early but I just had to work on him and trust that he was fit,' Morgan said.
'I knew he would see the mile out well.
'I felt a little bit vulnerable a furlong and a half out but he dug in late and strongest late.
'He is really tough.'
Know Thyself's career earning went soaring past the $1 million mark with his seventh victory in 10 starts.
It's been an amazing autumn campaign already for the four-year-old, which has now put four wins together on the bounce.
He won his way into the Country Championships Final by capturing the Northern Wild Card before winning the $1 million main event on day one of The Championships.
Messara and Gavranich elected to keep him in work following the Country Championships win to target further late carnival riches with Know Thyself winning again in the lead-up to his The Coast assault.
'It's a fantastic program coming through that Country Championships race,' Messara said.
'There is plenty of races for him and it's hard to avoid these races, it's a Listed race and another stakes winner for The Autumn Sun, who we have up at stud.
'It's fantastic.'
Never doubt yourself!
A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/GPLIwD8z0Q
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025
• Higher Achievement on cards for Waller colt
Messara and Gavranich are considering backing up Know Thyself in Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m) next Friday on their home track at Scone.
The stable will wait to see how the gelding pulls up in the coming days before making the decision but are eager for Know Thyself to gain eligibility for this year's $3 million Big Dance, held at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, November 4.
Rustic Steel successfully completed the The Coast-Scone Cup double in 2022 before claiming the Big Dance.
'That will get him in the race (Scone Cup),' Messara said.
'The horse comes first and we will see how he pulls up from today.
'It was a solid run today and we want to make sure he is a 100 per cent before we make that distance but we might have a wet week this week in Scone so if it's a heavy track we might be tempted to go around.'
Messara plans to nominated Know Thyself for the Scone Cup on Monday before deciding whether the stable will run their stable star in the feature event.
The first two runners home in the Scone Cup received eligibility for this year's Big Dance.
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