Concrete will run in a Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1000m and Cleary is optimistic the four-year-old gelding will deliver a sparkling run at the best possible time - just four days before the 14 slots are drawn for the $1.3 million race over 1200m at Randwick on October 19.

How The Kosciuszko works is that $5 tickets in a draw for the slots can be purchased through a variety of TAB outlets until Sunday. The draw will be made on Tuesday. The slot-holders then do deals on agreed prizemoney splits with connections of horses they want to run for them.

Cleary's other hopes for The Kosciuszko are Up Trumpz, which won first-up over 1100m at Warwick Farm last Wednesday, and Girls Are Ready, which finished third in her second-up run on a very heavy track over 1400m at Rosehill on Saturday.

The trainer would be over the moon if just one of his horses got a start in the rich event, which is restricted to country-trained horses.

"I'm really happy with Concrete," Cleary said.

"He had excuses first-up when he was seventh on the Kensington track at Randwick and he won four straight before that.

"He'll be ready for the race at Canberra and hopefully after that he'll be looking good as the winner of five of his last six races for the slot-holders to consider when the draw is made.

"Up Trumpz's win at Warwick Farm was terrific.

"We let him clock off for a few days after that and he'll race again at Warwick Farm on September 18.

"It would be a month between that and The Kosciuszko, if he gets a start.

"It's a good little program we've set out for him and fingers crossed we'll get him there to the big race at the end.

"Girls Are Ready went to the paddock to clock off for a week after a really good run at Rosehill.

"We'll sharpen her up and she's in the mix with a chance as well. We've got three little irons in the fire."

There will be a rush by slot-holders to pick up the horses favoured in the betting for The Kosciuszko, but some slot-holders who miss out on the obvious chances may be prepared to wait a bit after that to see how the form of others plays out before making a decision.

"I think the first three horses in the market are obvious picks, but overall The Kosciuszko is a very open race this year," Cleary said.

Greg Prichard writes for Racing NSW