Cosmic Lights ready to shine in Standish
Injury and a problem with ibuprofen has resulted in Cosmic Lights having an interrupted racing career.
Now a six-year-old, Cosmic Lights has faced the starter on just five occasions, registering three wins and a second.
His one “miss” came after he finished third in a restricted race at Bendigo earlier in the year, only to be disqualified after returning a positive swab to ibuprofen.
The careers of several high profile horses were put in jeopardy after they were treated at a Victorian farm with ibuprofen for tendon injuries.
Cosmic Lights only has to satisfy trainer Peter Morgan in a work-out on Wednesday morning to line up in his toughest test to date, the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Sunday.
The son of Northern Meteor started his career with Luke Oliver before being transferred to Morgan’s care for his current campaign.
After a debut win at Mornington, Cosmic Lights finished second up the straight behind another injury-plagued galloper, O’Malley.
Cosmic Light then spent the best part of a year off the scene, returning to win on the synthetic track at Pakenham before another stint on the sidelines.
He had one more run for Oliver before again being forced to the sidelines with his ibuprofen problem.
Morgan said he had the gelding tested for ibuprofen before his victory at Bendigo on December 18 and is hopeful it’s upwards and onwards.
“Everything’s good with him,” Morgan said.
“He’s a nice horse and everything is going along all right with him and touch wood we haven’t had any problems with him since I’ve had him.
“We’ll give him a bit of a work-out in the morning and see how he comes through that, but at this stage the plan is to run him on Sunday.”
Morgan said he is yet to finalise a jockey for Cosmic Lights.
“He’ll be on the minimum and he’s a lightly raced, smart horse,” Morgan said.
“I don’t think we’ll have a problem finding a jockey.”