The impressive win of Cosmic Gossip at the Sunshine Coast has further boosted the $500,000 QTIS 2YO The Jewel as the battle to find Queensland’s best juvenile heats up.
The Jewel, which is restricted to QTIS eligible horses, will be run on March 14 at the Gold Coast and is already attracting plenty of attention.
Cosmic Gossip scored a last-to-first win and stamped herself as a genuine hope in The Jewel by winning Saturday’s Sunshine Coast Classic.
Trainer Stuart Kendrick, whose double on Saturday took him to 49 winners for the season, is sure Cosmic Gossip is up to top class.
“We were probably a little bit disappointed with her down at the Gold Coast. We wanted to sneak into the Magic Millions but she never really travelled in that race,” he said.
“Her other form is good and her first-up run was huge.
“With this win it opens up options and the first one is probably The Jewel.”
Winning jockey Matt McGillivray backed Kendrick, saying the filly has “a nice motor”.
“It’s something you say a lot with young horses but she’s going to be a lot better when she gets further,” McGillivray said.
The filly is not the only impressive candidate for The Jewel to race recently.
Trainer Desleigh Forster said Thursday’s Doomben winner Boom Spender had continued to impress.
“He is a very nice horse in the making,” she said.
The Robert Heathcote-trained Rothfire, who is unbeaten in two starts, is expected to trial soon as he heads to The Jewel.
Talented filly Better Reflection, who won at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, is likely to chase the 3YO QTIS The Jewel.
The filly has had a history of leg problems but was back to her best with a narrow win.
Trainer John Wigginton was quick to praise replacement jockey Brad Stewart who took the ride on Saturday after Ryan Maloney became ill.
“It’s a credit to the whole team who’ve worked hard to bring her back and I can’t say enough about the ride from Brad at short notice,” he said.
“We’re off to the QTIS Jewel if she comes through this well which she should.”
