Asterix proved there is no substitute for class and set a weight-carrying record with a strong staying performance to win the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) at Gosford on Saturday.
Jason Collett was at his patient tactical best on Asterix who made light of his 61kg as the gelding continued his remarkable form turnaround.
A New Zealand Derby winner in 2022, Asterix seemingly lost his way and won only one more race in more than three years before he scored in The Beauford at the Newcastle stand-alone meeting last November.
The Chris Waller-trained Asterix has suddenly now struck a rich vein of form, returning to win the Group 3 JRA Plate first-up during the Sydney autumn carnival before his Gosford Gold Cup success.
Collett, who produced a brilliant ride as he picked his way through the field, has an affinity with Asterix partnering the stayer to his three recent wins and said simply: “He’s flying!”
“I was fortunate enough the tempo was great early,” Collett said.
“He started to get into a nice rhythm down the side and we worked together from there.
“I got a lot of lucky breaks but I had the horse to do it.”
Asterix ($11), who gave the Waller stable a treble at the Gosford stand-alone after earlier wins with Nobler and Monopolistic, burst through the ruck and overpowered his rivals to win by a length Zaphod ($13) with Touristic ($31) a similar margin away third.
Maison Louis ($6 equal favourite) was standing the leaders a big start from the 600m but ran on well for fourth, albeit beaten about three lengths, with Portland ($6 equal favourite) finishing sixth after having every chance.
Asterix shouldered 61kg which is the most any horse has carried to win the Gosford Gold Cup since weights went metric in 1972.
The previous record was Numerian who shouldered 59.5kg to win the race in 2022.
Asterix gave Waller his fourth win in the Gosford Gold Cup after previous successes with Polly Grey (2021) Another Dollar (2020) and Moriarty (2013).
Waller wasn’t on track for Asterix’s win but stable representative Zane Jones said the stayer is likely to be given his chance at some of the feature staying races at the Brisbane carnival.
“He’s a happy horse and is going better than ever,” Jones said.
“He has strung back-to-back wins together. He is extremely underrated but as long as he is winning, we don’t mind.
“You would have to say a trip to Queensland beckons after that, his effort was full of merit.”
