Racing
Guineas program commences at The Valley
The McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley will kick-start the spring campaign of Stay Cosmic.
The Caulfield Guineas hopes of the connections of Stay Cosmic commence in a Stakes race at Moonee Valley.
The Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) on Saturday form part of two runs leading into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 for the Phillip Stokes-trained galloper.
Stay Cosmic had three starts during his two-year-old year for a 1200m win at Cranbourne on debut which was followed by successive runner-up finishes, firstly at Sandown over 1300m and then behind Highvol in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in April.
A brother to Stay Focused, Stokes said Stay Cosmic was more tractable than his older sibling who contested the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in March and followed up defeating the older horses over 1500m at Moonee Valley later that month.
Stay Focused has also been successful at Stakes level, winning the Listed Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville Parks in April.
Stokes thinks the 1200m trip will be too short on Saturday and is looking forward to seeing the rig step up to 1400m in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 20.
"I think he will be better when he gets to 1400 (metres) or a mile," Stokes said.
"His races, so far, have been good, although he hasn't been able to win in town.
"I think he's a nice horse, but he might find a couple sharper on Saturday and once he gets to 1400 metres, he will come into his own.
"He'll go to the Guineas Prelude and then Guineas, hopefully.
"That's the dream."
Stay Cosmic enters Saturday's contest having had three jump-outs to prepare for his return.
Stokes said the second of the three jump-outs was underwhelming at Pakenham.
"We weren't sure why, so we took him down to Traralgon, and he trialled good," Stokes said.
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