The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Cosmic Force has a tight grip on the betting for the 2019 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Cosmic Force, above, is the clear cut favourite for the 2019 Golden Slipper at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Cosmic Force was installed as the new $5 favourite for the Golden Slipper at Ladbrokes.com.au after drawing barrier two in the sixteen horse field which came on top of his stunning performance on a heavy track to win the win the Group 3 $175,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
The Deep Field colt has continued to firm in the betting and on race eve is a clear cut $4.50 favourite ahead of Tenley at $6, Microphone at $6.50 and Yes Yes Yes at $8.
Winning Pago Pago Stakes jockey James McDonald had a prolonged look over his shoulder as Cosmic Force dashed clear of the field at the 200m and he couldn’t believe the seven and a quarter lengths winning margin over the runner up Born A Warrior.
Unfortunately McDonald had to surrender the Golden Slipper ride to Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra as he was already committed to ride the James Cummings trained Tenley in the richest race for two year olds in the world Zahra will get every chance to give Cosmic Force the run of the race from barrier two in the sixteen horse field.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden said in his Racenet Column that Cosmic Force has come through his Pago Pago Stakes win in great order and the prospect of a another rain affected track would be in his favour.
“If anything, he seems to have improved since last week and everything is spot on from our point-of-view. And any rain, as we now know won’t harm his chances,” Paul Snowden wrote.
“We were certainly upbeat about his chances last time but couldn’t have envisaged him winning so easily so it was a pleasing result.
“But let’s not kid ourselves, this is going to be a much tougher assignment, a completely different race but I can assure everyone that the horse has bounced back in very good order from the run and we couldn’t be happier with him.
“Both dad and I have studied him very closely all week, looking for anything out of the ordinary, but I must say he’s perfect. He’s a good doer, is tough but relaxed and he just takes it all in his stride.”
Team Snowden could have a possible four runners in the Golden Slipper with the fillies Anaheed ($20) and Catch Me ($34) in the field while Rome ($81) has been listed as the second emergency.
