Cosmopolitan

It is true that Cosmopolitan enjoyed the run of the race in the Class 2 one-mile fillies’ handicap at Newbury on Saturday. She and Ocean Transit dictated the pace throughout, and the pair of them finished first and second. But it was still a wholly likeable performance from the winner. She set a nice even pace, definitely not too fast, but the drying ground was sapping enough, so it was hardly surprising that the early pace wasn’t frenetic. The likeable thing about Cosmopolitan’s performance, however, was that, when she was challenged, by Ocean Transit throughout the final two furlongs and then by Silver Games, who travelled better than anything to the furlong pole, she picked up and kept finding. She only got home by a neck in the end, but you just felt that, even if they had gone another furlong, or even another mile, they still wouldn’t have got past her.

This is a hugely valuable attribute, this willingness to hold other horses at bay, but at the same time not wanting to do much more than is required. It means that a horse doesn’t subject itself to a harder time of it than it needs to, while at the same time it keeps people guessing as to the exact depth of its ability. Signs are that Cosmopolitan is a fair bit better than the bare form of this race suggests. Three of her four wins now have been gained by no more than three parts of a length. It was interesting that John Gosden thought enough of her to allow her take her chance in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes, despite the fact that he already had Rainbow View for the race. Perhaps the original intention was for her to be up there forcing the pace, but that plan never materialised, if it was a plan, and she raced away from the main group before finishing stone last. You can easily put a line through that run and, if you do, the Cadeaux Genereux filly’s record is really impressive, her profile highly progressive. The handicapper has raised her just 3lb to a mark of 91 for this performance, and that may be lenient. She may have hoodwinked him as well. She handles fast ground and easy ground, she can go in again off that mark, and she shouldn’t be out of her depth against her own sex in Listed or Group 3 class.

18th July 2009