Cosmic Force has gained race fitness on one key rival and will have the advantage of it over another when he chases a campaign-defining win in the Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick.
The colt was edged out by the race-fit Standout when he resumed in the Heritage Stakes and co-trainer Paul Snowden felt the lack of match practice was the difference at the finish.
Cosmic Force and Standout will meet again in Saturday’s Group Two 1200 metre sprint and with the added advantage of a two-and-a-half kilogram weight turnaround, Snowden is confident his charge can atone.
“We were lacking a bit of race fitness. We were first-up off a long break and that’s the only thing that got us I’m pretty sure,” Snowden said.
“Hopefully we can level the score on Saturday against the winner.”
Standout will not be the only worthy opponent, the race attracting a small but select field including the Chris Waller-trained pair of Accession and True Detective along with Group One-winning two-year-old Microphone.
The Godolphin colt will be making his seasonal return after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips following his last appearance in the Sires’ Produce Stakes in April.
Microphone had the wood on Cosmic Force both times they met as autumn juveniles but Snowden believes his colt can turn the tables, again citing race fitness as key.
“We’ve had that run under our belt which is how we were vulnerable first up and I dare say, even if Microphone is up to the mark, he might just lack that bit of race fitness,” Snowden said.
“Hopefully we’ve got that on our side this week and it’s enough to get us across the line.”
A son of Deep Field, Cosmic Force is proven on all track conditions but his best win came on a heavy surface in the Pago Pago Stakes which he won by more than seven lengths.
With rain predicted in Sydney over the coming days, Cosmic Force could firm even tighter than the $2.30 offered by the TAB on Thursday.
Tim Clark will ride the three-year-old, who will go forward from his outside draw, and Snowden is hoping to see a performance worthy of cementing Cosmic Force a trip to Melbourne for the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
“It’s an important race for him on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“He’s still a colt and this is the main target, along with the Coolmore after this, so hopefully the ducks can line up.”
