Dry track key for Cosmonova at Randwick races

An untimely rain shower derailed Cosmonova’s chances at her last start, but trainer Joe Pride is optimistic that clear skies forecast for Randwick this weekend will allow the mare to showcase her potential. She will back up in Saturday’s Ranvet Handicap (1200m), a week after finishing sixth in the final race at Rosehill, three lengths behind the winner, South Of India.

Pride had debated scratching Cosmonova from the soft 7-rated track but decided to take the chance, hoping for an improvement as the day progressed. Unfortunately, the rain returned at the worst possible moment.

“I convinced myself to run her on the morning because I thought, ‘It’s not going to rain today, and this track is going to be OK, it’s going to improve,’” Pride explained. “You wouldn’t believe it, it stayed dry all day, and as I was saddling her up, it started pouring. You could see she didn’t like it. She was scrambling in it.”

Despite that setback, Pride remains confident in Cosmonova’s abilities. “She has got good talent, and she will be hard to beat on Saturday,” he said.

The lightly raced Zoustar mare has won four of her nine starts and is one of three Randwick runners for the Pride stable this weekend. Headley Grange will contest the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m), while Coole Jakey is entered for the 2025 Stud And Stable Staff Awards Handicap (1200m).

Pride also had plans to run Accredited in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m), but the race was canceled due to insufficient entries.

Headley Grange heads into his race as an early favorite, following a victory at Wyong’s stand-alone Saturday meeting last start. Pride is optimistic about the gelding’s chances. “He is doing a great job, and the 1400 is about spot-on for him. He wins often enough to say he’s got that most important part they need, and that’s that real competitive streak,” he said.

Coole Jakey is also scheduled to resume in the final event, although connections are considering waiting for a rain-affected track before kicking off his campaign. “He has trialed really well, and he is moving really well,” Pride said. “But he needs a wet track, and if it wasn’t a (soft) five or worse, I wouldn’t run him.”