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Canterbury Stakes 2015: Racing’s first lady Gai Waterhouse stamps her authority in early autumn

8th Mar 2015

Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Saturday, 7 March 2015

TWO Group 1 winners in separate states just 20 minutes apart, a winning quartet at Royal Randwick and the new Golden Slipper favourite.

It was all in a day’s work for Hall of Famer Gai Waterhouse as she provided yet another example of her training genius — and how quickly fortunes can change in this business.

Cosmic Endeavour capped a memorable day for Waterhouse on her home track when she led throughout to win the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

Racing’s first lady was still receiving slaps on her back form Cosmic Endeavour’s owner when her colt Wandjina also led all the way in the Group 1 $500,00 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemingtoni.

“This is a dream day,’’ Waterhouse admitted.

“But I remember leaving Warwick Farm last Saturday very despondent, I was down in the dumps after a very ordinary day in Sydney and Melbourne last week.

“Then that night I was having dinner with (husband) Rob and it was then I decided to run Cosmic Endeavour in the Canterbury Stakes.

“It wasn’t in my original plans for the mare but she ran a good race for second last week and is a mare just starting to hit her straps.

“I thought the Canterbury Stakes was a very winnable race because this mare has beaten the boys before.’’

Waterhouse was proven right — yet again — as Cosmic Endeavour ($3.30 favourite) ran her rivals into the ground, scoring by a half length from the ever-gallant Catkins ($4.40), with Criterion ($12) finishing fast for an eye-catching third, just in front of Hooked, Sacred Falls and Leebaz.

Cosmic Endeavour and Wandjina took Waterhouse to 128 Group 1 wins and third on the all-time list behind her late father Tommy Smith on 282 and Bart Cummings, who prepared his 268th Group 1 winner with Hallowed Crown in the Randwick Guineas.

James McDonald, rider of Cosmic Endeavour, is also on a Group 1 roll after having won the Chipping Norton Stakes on Contributer last week.

“Gai has been a big supporter of mine in these big races. I’ve run second in a Melbourne Cup and second in a Magic Millions, it’s good to get one on the board,’’ McDonald said.

“This mare is trained at the track and Gai’s fitness and training ability was always going to kick in that last furlong.

“It was a gutsy win. She has a high cruising speed and her sprint at the top of the straight was awesome.’’

Cosmic Endeavour gave Waterhouse her seventh win in the Canterbury Stakes after previous successes with Sprint By (1996), All Our Mob (1997), Dance Hero (2005), More Joyous (2011-12) and Pierro (2013).

Waterhouse, who also won both feature juvenile races with unbeaten youngsters Vancouver (Todman Stakes) and English (Reisling Stakes), along with rank outsider Nayeli in the last, said Cosmic Endeavour was likely to be aimed at the $3 million Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick on April 4.

Catkins tried hard as always and was closing late on Cosmic Endeavour but has to settle for her fourth career Group 1 placing.

“The tempo early got me off the bit and chasing,’’ said Jim Cassidy, rider of Catkins. “It was only courage and tenacity which enabled her to finish as close as she did.”

QUEEN OF THE TURF STAKES BETTING UPDATE

Cosmic Endeavour firmed up from $11 in to $8 equal third pick after taking out the Canterbury Stakes.

First Seal $4.60
Lucia Valentina $6
Catkins $8
Cosmic Endeavour $8 (in from $11)
Royal Descent $8
Others from $15

DONCASTER MILE BETTING UPDATE

Hallowed Crown was unchanged to win the Doncaster after taking out the Randwick Guineas. Cosmic Endeavour firmed from $51 to $15.

First Seal $8
Hallowed Crown $8
World Ace $8
Adelaide $11
Chautauqua $11
Hes Your Man $11
Real Impact $11
Sweynesse $11
Cosmic Endeavour $15 (in from $51)
Others from $15