Cosmo Bulk's bid to recapture the glory in Singapore came up short on Sunday night as the former champion took sixth in the Singapore Airlines International Cup on firm going.
The 7-year-old Cosmo Bulk, who lifted the cup two years ago and was runner-up last year, made the 2,000-meter trip toward the back of the pack after getting a poor jump off the blocks.
Cosmo Bulk was still 12th as he turned for home with 400 meters left at the Kranji race track. Jockey Masami Matsuoka mustered all he could from the horse with his whip, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. For a runner who likes to push forward from the get-go, Cosmo Bulk closed out well. But it has never been his style, and the connections were left to lament the fact that the horse did not have the chance to run his race.
Top choice Jay Peg, who set a blinding pace to the S$3 million race, won in 2 minutes, 0.9 seconds, finishing almost two lengths ahead of second-place Recast. Jay Peg beat Vodka to win the Dubai Duty Free in record time in March.
Matsuoka had three mounts on the day, unable to win any of them. His best finish was in the Singapore Airlines International Cup. The jockey said Cosmo Bulk had to wait in his barrier a little longer than to the horse's liking.
"He was just a little slow to jump," Matsuoka told the Singapore Turf Club. "He tried to get a good position but we couldn't. So we just decided to stay back and reserve his stamina. He had a strong finish in the straight."
Trainer Kazunori Tabe said to Japanese press that Cosmo Bulk was in top form, but needed a better start to run his race.
"He seemed very eager to go at the paddock, but the bad start was too much," Tabe said. "It's disappointing."
Cosmo Bulk was second to fellow Japanese entry Shadow Gate last year.
* Please visit the following websites for more information.
Singapore Turf Club website: http://www.turfclub.com.sg/
Singapore Airlines International Cup website: http://www.siacup.com.sg/
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