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By Glenn Davis
Trainer Robert Heathcote is hopeful his gun three-year-old Cosmo Centaurus can stake a claim for the Queensland Racing Carnival when the gelding returns for the QTIS Jewel Prelude at Doomben on Saturday.
Heathcote is confident Cosmo Centaurus can thwart his rivals in the 1110 metre feature.
A son of Cosmic Force, Cosmo Centaurus, was a $140,000 buy at the Sydney Inglis sales and is ineligible for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel Final at the Gold Coast on March 8.
“He’s allowed to run in the Prelude but he’s ineligible to run in the Final as he’s not a QTIS registered horse,” Heathcote said.
Cosmo Centaurus earned rave reviews after winning at his only two starts.
After barrier trialling four times before making his debut, Cosmo Centaurus was well supported to win on debut over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast in August last year.
Heathcote immediately spelled him with a long-range view to the winter carnival and was vindicated when he was a commanding winner over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on January 25.
Heathcote believes Cosmo Centaurus is similar to his Group 1-winning champion Rothfire but has stopped short of declaring him as good as his star performer.
“He’s very similar to Rothfire but it’s a big call at this stage of his career to say he’s as good as him,” Heathcote said.
“He’s won twice over 1000 metres so far and I’d say 1110 metres is still short of his best distance.
“I think he’ll run 1600 metres so this is a nice stepping stone for the winter carnival.
“His owners and I have all got a healthy opinion of him and so far he’s franked that opinion.
Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast Turf Club | 1:58 PM
“But, he’s still got to take the next step to get to the winter races.”
Heathcote will also have a hand in the two-year-old divisions of the QTIS Jewel Prelude with Pretty Dubious and Carbonara.
Pretty Dubious made an impressive start to his career by finishing second to the Kelly Schweida-trained Sunrays over 1110 metres at Doomben earlier this month while Carbonara is making her debut in the fillies division.
A daughter of Star Turn, Carbonara impressed Heathcote with a dominant barrier trial win at Doomben last week.
Doomben | Brisbane Racing Club@Doomben | 3:43 PM
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