Te Akau are once again set to hold a strong hand in next month’s Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) with Lord Cosmos adding his name to the contenders with victory at New Plymouth on Wednesday.
Race rival Alabama Gold looked to have the race won when opening up several lengths on the field when turning for home, but Lord Cosmos showed a blistering turn of foot in the closing stages to run down and nab the Turn Me Loose colt on the line to win by a head.
“He was a long way off them and that was a really good win,” said trainer Jamie Richards, registering his fourth juvenile success for the season and second in a week after Fellini scored on Monday at Pukekohe.
“It was a chequered run, three deep without cover in a muddling affair, so I thought it was an impressive performance.
“Admittedly the horse in front did come to the end of it over the last 50 yards, but he showed plenty of determination and fight to get up and win.”
With the win all but assuring the son of Pierro a place in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie on January 22, Richards is contemplating whether he gives the colt another run before the $1 million feature.
“He’ll have enough money in the bank, heading into the Karaka Million,” Richards said.
“We could give him a look around Ellerslie in the two-year-old race on the ninth (January), or go straight into it. We’ll be guided by how he comes through the race today.”
Lord Cosmos finished second behind Zaher when on debut at Otaki last month and Richards said he benefited from a quick break.
“I am very happy with the way he won and he’s a horse that improved with a little break in the paddock and then three weeks into his next run,” he said.
“It worked out ideally.”
Lord Cosmos was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Hallmark Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $190,000. – NZ Racing Desk
