The Wagga Gold Cup carnival features numerous highlight races including the $80,000 MTC Guineas (1600m) for three year-olds with victory on Friday going to Cosmic Force gelding Cosmic Avenger.
Trained in Sydney by John Sargent, Cosmic Avenger has been in top form this year with wins at Hawkesbury and Newcastle earning him top weight of 60kg.
Given a patient ride by Tommy Berry, Cosmic Avenger let down with a big finish to win by three-quarters of a length.
An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Newgate Farm for Tricolours Racing, Cosmic Avenger has the overall record of three wins and four placings from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $150,000.
Tommy Berry has ridden him in all three wins and has the knack for getting him to produce his best.
“He's a horse you've got to know, and I figured out very quickly, he's got a very short turn of foot, and now we're getting him over further, that turn of speed doesn't even last that long, so you've got to hold him up for as long as you can,” said Berry.
“Sometimes that will get you beaten in races, but that's also his best chance of winning.
“He's in a really good frame of mind. I worked him on Tuesday morning and I reckon that's the best he's felt all prep and probably the best he's looked.”
Cosmic Avenger is the best of two winners from Cabanga, a placed three-quarter sister to Group II placed Harlow Mist and grand-daughter of four time Group I winner Grand Archway.
Cabanga has been a regular visitor to the Newgate sires and has colts to follow by Brutal and North Pacific.
Cosmic Force is a well priced proven value option on the Newgate roster this year with the son of Deep Field standing at $16,500.
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