Cosmic Gem relished the soft surface at Belmont on Wednesday with a three length victory in the Glenroy Chaff Hcp (1400m) for trainer Steve Wolfe and stable jockey Shaun McGruddy.
It was his second win on a Soft 5 surface following an Albany maiden as an odds-on favourite in April. There was strong support again at the city midweek meeting ($7 into $4.60) and punters were on good terms when he eyeballed front-runner South Hoba (Astern) approaching the home turn.
He was off and gone in the straight to score eased down from runner-up Cosmo Ruler (Universal Ruler). “It was a brilliant ride and a good win,” Wolfe said. “There were excuses last start when he was on the wrong part of the track at Bunbury. He’s ticking along nicely and we will look for a Saturday race now.”
McGruddy reported the win was never in doubt. “He jumped and went forward. I didn’t want to take him back with that weight (59kg). They didn’t come close although I did hear Willie (Pike) screaming at one stage!”
Cosmic Gem (4g Cosmic Force – Pay Gem Again by Oratorio) was bred and sold by Scenic Lodge for $135,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions. His dam is an unraced half-sister to Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) who completed a sales-related black-type double in the 2020 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 2021 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy at Pinjarra.
He went on to win 9 races for earnings of $1.18 million topped by the $350,000 Bluff Knoll (1099m) for trainer Embroja Lee Altieri at Albany in 2024. Pay Gem Again has an unraced 3yo full-brother to Gemma’s Son named Gemolition with Altieri and her most recent foal is a 2yo colt by Universal Ruler.
