Three Win Saturday - Cognito's a Cracker
Date: 1 Oct 2022
Cognito (3 g So You Think - Lady Primrose, by More Than Ready) continued making steps towards the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) by winning the $30,000 Inglewood Stud Guineas' Trial (1400m) on Saturday at Riccarton.
Built in the mould of his 10-time Group One winning sire So You Think (High Chaparral), Cognito stormed home to win on debut in the Maiden 1200 metres on 24 August at Taupo, before finishing a close second in the 3YO 1400 metres on 10 September at Ruakaka.
Ridden by Jason Laking, who is part of the southern team working for Te Akau, Cognito tracked a compressed field turning for home and only late was able to pierce between runners for victory.
“He's a progressive horse and arguably should be unbeaten in all three starts,†Walker said. “He was very unlucky at Ruakaka.
“He's a horse with a lot of scope, has a great turn of foot, and should continue to do well down here in preparation for the 2000 Guineas.â€
On Soft6 footing, Cognito ran 1400 metres in 1:25.1 and paid $2.50 & $1.10 on the NZ TAB tote, while stable-mate Malborough Bay (Darci Brahma) finished third.
Owned by the Te Akau Think Ahead Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Cognito was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $165,000, from the draft of Baramul Stud, at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
“I was very impressed again by Cognito and I also thought Malborough Bay went a really good race, and both horses look nice chances for the 2000 Guineas,†said Ellis, of the prestigious three-year-old classic raced for $550,000 on 5 November at Riccarton - a race which Te Akau has won multiple times.
“It was a lovely ride by Jason (Laking), teaching Cognito to come between horses in the straight. Jason's an integral part of our team in Christchurch and it's great to have his excellent horsemanship contributing to our horses on and off the track.
“Jason deserves all the success he gets and it was only six months ago that he won the New Zealand Oaks on Belle En Rouge for us.
“Our southern team is being looked after by Hunter Durrant, who's doing an incredible job with the horses and the team for us at Riccarton. They don't come any better than Hunter. He's so reliable, fastidious, picks up on the little things and he's just a champion to have working for us.â€
From a mare by international stallion More Than Ready (Southern Halo), Cognito carries a bloodline cross of immortal sire Northern Dancer and has the pedigree and type to get further.
Dam Lady Primrose has already left Hard Lady (All Too Hard), a dual winner to 1300 metres in Australia, along with mile winner Presser (Press Statement), while grand-dam Primrose Sands, by champion sire and broodmare sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), was a stakes' winner and Group Two placed over 2000 metres - winning nine times, including eight in succession, from 1200m to 2000m - and she has left three winners of eight races.
Cognito was strapped by Katija Cherie.
Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz
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