Retiring trainer Geoff Duryea has confirmed a decision on the future of reigning The Kosciuszko winner Front Page will likely be made next week as the veteran conditioner prepares to close the door on his career.
Duryea revealed he would be retiring from the training ranks on Tuesday evening with his final two runners set to line-up at his home track of Corowa next Monday.
He has been part of the industry for more than five decades, both as a jockey for 16 years and a trainer for 39 years.
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Duryea, who piloted Red Hope in the 1973 Melbourne Cup before retiring on Christmas Eve in 1983, got another taste of the big stage in more recent times through the exploits of his stable weapon Front Page.
Front Page delivered his trainer a maiden stakes victory in the Listed Creswick Stakes at Caulfield in 2020 before winning the feature Wagga Town Plate and enjoying his crowning moment in the $2m The Kosciuszko at Royal Randwick last year.
The gun son of Magnus is one of the leading contenders to defend his The Kosciuszko crown in 2023 but would need to remain with a NSW bush trainer to be eligible for the state’s richest country race.
“We have briefly spoken about Front Page to the guys and we will make a decision next week on where he goes,” Duryea said.
“Whether that he heads north or south, we will have to decide.
“A Kosciuszko defence is strong on our mind but it is pointless stopping around here anywhere because he is too highly rated so he has to go north or south.
“My vote is to have another crack at it but we will see where he goes to and go from there.
“I only train him so we have to go through it with all the guys and go from there.”
Front Page is a $6 equal-second elect for the 2023 The Kosciuszko and would be a near certainty to be picked up by a slot-holder later this year.
Duryea confirmed decisions on the new homes of all of his horses would take place “in their own time”.
While retirement had been a consideration in recent times, the decision was moved forward due to staffing shortages.
“Due to circumstances, we've decided to make the call earlier than we planned,” Duryea said.
“I‘ve lost my main man, Darren Mathieson, who doesn’t want to be in racing any more so it has brought us forward a little bit.”
Duryea’s final runners will Albert The Cat and Wild Irish Rover on his home track on Monday.
Originally published as Kosciuszko-winning trainer Geoff Duryea to retire at end of June
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