Cosmic Light storms home under Muzi Yeni – that’s third placed Fly Peg Fly in the background
Ashburton trainer Duncan Howells breathed an audible sigh of relief at Scottsville on Wednesday after his Gr2 The Debutante winner Cosmic Light produced a workmanlike performance on her seasonal debut to maintain her unblemished record and book her ticket for the Cape Summer Of Champions.
The former KZN champion trainer has handled some smart horses, but there is no pressure like a promising horse in the present and the now.
And with punters choosing to ignore the uphill task facing his 3yo daughter of Querari off her MR of 92, and sending her out at a bright red 5 to 10, a victory in the R98 000 MR 89 Handicap was considered a foregone conclusion by many.
Winning Form sponsored Muzi Yeni has made a flying start to the new season
Things panned out well enough, with Muzi Yeni jumping Cosmic Light slightly slowly, as they tacked over to the middle of the track, with Pearl Emblem showing the way in the eight horse field.
At the 300m marker Cosmic Light was squeezed for her effort and she stuck to her task gamely to hold Pearl Emblem and Fly Peg Fly.
The official margin of 0,75 lengths wasn’t highly impressive on paper, but may have flattered her opponents. The winning time was 69,91 secs.
Trainer Duncan Howells, who probably scared off most prospective opponents, saddled half the field, and admitted that he didn’t have Cosmic Light wound up. He said that she would come on with the run.
“Muzi tucked her in – and she was travelling quite hard. But it was a good win and she is well above average. I just wanted her to have a run before her Cape trip. I think if she goes more ground, she will race handy – which is a positive thing. Well done to the owners,” he said.
The prestigious Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas is likely to be her prime target.
Jockey Muzi Yeni said that he had decided not to let her stride and rather try and tuck her in as he had not wanted his mount to overrace.
“She would have been better if I had let her stride. But she has gotten the job done, ” said the diminutive Winning Form sponsored jockey, who has made a flying start to the new season.
Warren Lenferna and Cathy Rymill lead Cosmic Light (Muzi Yeni) in
Gold Circle’s Warren Lenferna, who proudly conceded that he ‘never missed a racemeeting’, represented the owners, brothers Heinrich and Werner Kuhn, who are based in Gauteng and the Cape.
Lenferna was his usual eloquent self and thanked all involved. He has been associated with the Howells yard for some time – these days mostly as a supporter.
The Maine Chance Farms bred Cosmic Light is a daughter of Querari out of the once winning Silvano mare, Cosmic Dream.
She boasts the distinction of being her sire’s first stakes winner.
A R200 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Cosmic Light took her career earnings to R235 000 with her third win from three starts.
She looks a very exciting prospect and it will be interesting to see how she carries her KZN Champions Season Gr2 success into the rough and tumble of the Cape summer.
On an otherwise entertaining, albeit unremarkable afternoon of racing in the KZN capital, Garth Puller was the most succesful trainer with a winning double – Nishac scoring in the fourth and Eco Storm going all the way over 2400m to grab honours in the fifth race.
