News

Waterhouse Trifecta In $400,000 Inglis Guineas

17th May 2014

Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse provided the trifecta in the $400,000 RL Inglis Guineas (1400m) at Scone on Saturday with Cosmic Endeavour defeating stable mates Liberty’s Choice and Ryker in the feature event.

Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor x Crevette) was having her second start since claiming the Gr.2 ATC Sapphire Stakes during The Championships in Sydney and the filly showed her class to all those in the Hunter Valley.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy had Cosmic Endeavour in a midfield position three wide from barrier 14 of 16 and the three-year-old showed great tenacity once she balanced up in the straight to run away a solid winner. Liberty’s Choice finished strongly for second ahead of Ryker which sat right up on the pace.

“The three of them ran sensationally, Cosmic Endeavour was a million to one chance on the turn, she was struggling and then said 'get out of my way boys',” said an excited Gai Waterhouse.

"Liberty's Choice was ridden quietly, it was exactly what he needed, and he stormed home. And Ryker, how courageous he was, he just kept fighting,” added Waterhouse.

The race favourite Chautauqua missed the start badly and ran into trouble in the straight before storming home for a remarkable fifth placing only two lengths from the winner. The fairy-tale $2.4 million Inglis Triple Crown Bonus proved too elusive for Twilight Royale which has struggled to recapture her best form this autumn finishing at the tail of the field.

But all honours were with Cosmic Endeavour which took her earnings past $620,000 with victory in today’s Restricted Listed event. Connections will be hoping to add to that when the filly now heads to the Brisbane Carnival with her stable mates.

“They will all go to Brisbane, the float is waiting for them,” Waterhouse said.

Connections will be hoping that Cosmic Endeavour can make the step up to Group 1 level in Brisbane as 2011 Inglis Guineas winner Sincero did. Sincero won the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap four weeks after winning in Scone.

Bred by Mrs CB Remond, Cosmic Endeavour is the third living foal of stakes winning Danehill mare Crevette, which is a sister to two-time Hong Kong champion Fairy King Prawn.

The daughter of Northern Meteor was purchased for $230,000 by owners DC & JR Kelly from Willow Park Stud’s draft at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Cosmic Endeavour’s record now stands at four wins and two placings from 11 starts under the expert tutelage of Gai Waterhouse.

For more information on the $5 million Inglis Race Series go to inglis.com.au/races or email raceseries@inglis.com.au