Cosmic Endeavour Scores Most Impressive Barrier Trial Win

Cosmic Endeavour has not been seen at the races since she took out the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane in June, but looks set for a big 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival after recording an impressive barrier trial win at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Cosmic Endeavour is on track for a return to racing after impressing in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Cosmic Endeavour is on track for a return to racing after impressing in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Valentina took up the running in the early stages of the opening barrier trial of the morning over 1200 metres and Cosmic Endeavour was settled just behind her stablemate, with Le Roi, Pornichet and Diamond Drille further back.

Pornichet and Valentina were both asked for an extra effort by their respective jockeys, but they were no match for Cosmic Endeavour and she pulled well clear of her stablemates despite being kept under a tight hold to record a strong win from the fast-finishing Diamond Drille and Pornichet.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse elected to skip the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival with Cosmic Endeavour, but she is confident that the talented mare is capable of recording another win at the highest level of racing and has both the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 4 for the daughter of Northern Meteor.

Cosmic Endeavour has recorded six race wins from her 13 starts and will be chasing her fourth straight victory when she returns to racing after finishing her autumn campaign with wins in the Inglis Guineas (1400m), Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) and Tattersall’s Tiara.

Diamond Drille failed to fire in three race starts during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but she looks close to a return to racing after she worked home strongly to finish second behind Cosmic Endeavour.

The Al Maher mare was having her second barrier trial this preparation, after finishing second behind Farolitos in a barrier trial over 1050 metres at Royal Randwick on January 15, and is a chance of starting her autumn campaign in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.

Pornichet recorded his maiden Australian race win in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), but he did not hit the line as connections would have hoped in the second barrier trial of his preparation.

Stan Fox Stakes placegetter Valentina took up the running in the early stages of the trial, but the well-bred colt failed to respond when he was asked for an extra effort and he finished towards the tail of the field, while Wazn was never able to get into proceedings.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.