Lord Cosmos Completes Black Type Double for Karaka Million Runners

For a pair of talented two-year-olds who contested the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January, stakes races at Riccarton and Te Rapa on Saturday proved that they have taken a big step forward and now loom as major players for next season’s three-year-old features. 

After Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) kicked things off with a strong win in the $60,000 Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, it was over to Lord Cosmos (Pierro) to complete a notable double with a barnstorming finish in Te Rapa’s $60,000 Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1200m).

Lord Cosmos and Diss Is Dramatic finished 13th and 14th respectively in the January’s Karaka Million, both suffering troubled trips from wide gates in the high-octane feature and crossing the line well adrift of the impressive winner Dynastic (NZ) (Almanzor) and placegetters Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) and Fellini (NZ) (Belardo). Saturday’s late-season Listed successes were a far more accurate guide to their true quality.

Lord Cosmos was a $190,000 purchase by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis from Hallmark Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2021. He has now had five starts for two wins, two placings and $59,820, with the promise of a great deal more in store next season.

Ridden by Sam Weatherley, Lord Cosmos dropped out to last in Saturday’s six-horse field before launching an irresistible charge down the Te Rapa straight. He swiftly swallowed up Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) and Westwood (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and stretched out to score by half a length.

“He is a horse we have a lot of time for. and he has just needed a little time to mature,” trainer Mark Walker said.

“I thought the Te Rapa track was superbly presented today, it was fair for all horses, and he was able to run his race from the back and be too good over the closing stages.

“He is a horse who is going to keep getting better with age. He is a real athlete and just needs to strengthen even further.

“We may pop him out for a month or so now while the weather is warm, and if he comes back like I think he will, then he could well be a classic contender next season.”