Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday November 24

A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).

Cosmic Vega relished the conditions (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Drifting back to the tail of the field on straightening, Osborne elected to stick to the rails before finding a narrow seam between Chattahoochee Magnaspin.

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Relishing the conditions, the Ciaron Maher-trained son of Lope De Vega (IRE) defeated the topweight Zechariah (Nathaniel) by two lengths with a half-length back to the favourite Magnaspin (Magnus) in third.

A Listed winner at Naas the First Light Racing colour bearer advances his record to five wins, a second, and two thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $241,878.

Bred by Noreen Clibborn, Cosmic Vega (IRE) was a 100,000gns purchase for Ciaron Maher Racing / First Light Racing / JS Bloodstock from The Castlebridge Consignment at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.

A half-brother to Group III-placed The X O (Zoffany), Cosmic Vega (IRE) is the best of  is the best of three winners from four to race for the unraced Pivotal mare Pivotal Era, a sister to the Group III Prix Pénélope winner Humoresque and a half to Group II Flying Five Stakes winner Danehurst (Danehill), and Listed winner Rising Legend (Rock Of Gibraltar).

Bright finish to a bleak day (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Cosmic Vega (IRE) is the one of 143 black-type winners for Ballylinch Stud’s Lope De Vega (IRE) who commands a fee of €175,000.

The son of Shamardal shuttled to Australia for four seasons, (2011-2014).

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Race Result - bet365 Kilmore Cup LR 1600m

Kilmore Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:41.74
1
Cosmic Vega
- 7g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Pivotal Era (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Saffie Osborne 54
2
2
Zechariah
- 6g Nathaniel (IRE) x Nancy O (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jordan Childs 58.5
3
2.5
Magnaspin
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Luxaspin (AUS) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: W Egan 55.5
Magnus
4
4
Chattahoochee
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Auspicious (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
5
5
Titan Of Choice
- 6g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Any Day Will Do (AUS) (Any Given Saturday (USA))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: Liam Riordan 54
6
5.4
Flash Flood
- 7g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Giuditta (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
7
6.6
Danish Fortune
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Footsteps Of God (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: Darren McLeod Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
8
8.4
Maktoob
- 6g Awtaad (IRE) x Mudawanah (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: D Moor 54.5
9
9.6
First Immortal
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x Storm Siren (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: B Shinn 57.5
10
9.7
Chartres
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x The French House (AUS) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Tom Madden 54
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