Victorious in the G1 Tattersall's Tiara on her final start of her 3-year-old campaign, Cosmic Endeavour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) had been a beaten favorite in both her outings this season, finishing fourth and then second in a pair of Group 3 events, including the G3 Guy Walter S. at Warwick Farm last Saturday. However, punters as well as trainer Gai Waterhouse kept their faith in the 4-year-old mare and were duly rewarded with an all-the-way victory in the G1 Canterbury S. The bay broke alertly from post one and took control under James McDonald, while Chris Waller's multiple Group winner Catkins (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) was niggled along to keep track in fourth.
Cosmic Endeavour quickened sharply entering the straight and had three lengths to spare at the 200-meter mark. That margin was gradually reduced as Catkins produced an impressive late run and Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}) also made progress on the fence, yet the leader never looked in danger and scored comfortably by 1/2 length. “I thought about it last Saturday night, I was out to dinner and I started to think, “the Canterbury S. is such a winnable race when you've got a mare like this has just hit her hobbles,” said Waterhouse, who notched four wins on the Randwick card. “All this week, every single day she kept improving and it was a joy just to see her and she has beaten the boys before and I just knew she was cherry ripe and this was the time to run her,” the conditioner added. Waterhouse indicated that the G1 Doncaster Mile on day one of The Championships, Apr. 4, would be next for her charge.
Cosmic Endeavour was a A$230,000 purchase at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling sale, and has a So You Think (NZ) half-brother catalogued for this year's renewal (lot 345). Their dam is a full-sister to dual Horse of the Year in Hong Kong Fairy King Prawn (Aus) (Danehill).
Saturday, Randwick, Australia
CANTERBURY S.-G1, A$500,000, RAN, 3-7, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.17, gd.
1–COSMIC ENDEAVOUR (AUS), 126, f, 4, by Northern Meteor (Aus)
1st Dam: Crevette (Aus) (MSW & GSP-Aus), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Twiglet (Aus), by Twig Moss (Fr)
3rd Dam: Extradite (Aus), by Bletchingly (Aus)
O-D C Kelly & Mrs J R Kelly; B-Mrs C B Remond
(Aus); T-Gai Waterhouse; J-James McDonald.
A$300,000. Lifetime Record: 16-7-2-1, A$1,414,280.
*A$230,000 yrl '12 INGEAS. Werk Nick Rating:
A+++ *Triple plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Catkins (Aus), 126, m, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Salix Caprea
(Aus), by Catbird (Aus). O-Ingham Racing (Mgrs: Ms
L J Ingham, J A Ingham, R C Ingham & Mrs D N
Kepitis); B-O J Carter (Aus); T-Chris Waller.
A$100,000. *A$85,000 yrl '11 MMGDCO.
3–Criterion (NZ), 130, c, 4, Sebring (Aus)–Mica's Pride
(Aus) (GSW-Aus), by Bite the Bullet. O-Sir O G Glenn;
B-Go Bloodstock New Zealand Ltd (NZ); T-David
Hayes & Tom Dabernig. A$50,000. *1/2 to Silently
(Aus) (Anabaa) SW-Aus, 1/2 to Varenna Miss (Aus)
(Redoute's Choice {Aus}), GSW-Aus.
Margins: HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.25, 3.50, 11.00.
Also Ran: Hooked (Aus), Sacred Falls (NZ), Leebaz (NZ), Royal Descent (Aus), Tiger Tees (NZ). Scratched: Fontelina (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
