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Kendrick looks for a chink in Rothfire armour

13 March 2020

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer Stu Kendrick believes rival Rothfire deserves to be at Winx and Black Caviar odds in the Two-Year-Old QTIS Jewel but remains hopeful his talented filly Cosmic Gossip can find a chink in the youngster’s armour at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Rothfire is a $1.10 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record in the $500,000 feature while Cosmic Gossip is a $31 chance in TAB fixed markets.

Cosmic Gossip is a daughter of the ill-fated sire Spill The Beans and was bought for $80,000 at the Magic Millions March sales.

“I bought her with Shane McGrath from Aquis Farm as we both liked her and she’s by Spill The Beans,” Kendrick said.

“I’ve had a few of the Spill The Beans that go well and Cosmic Gossip is one of them.”

Cosmic Gossip broke through for her first win at the Sunshine Coast on January 25 and has crucial race experience at the Gold Coast when she finished seventh to Queen Kay on January 4.

“She didn’t get on the bit at the Gold Coast but her last 200 metres was really good,” Kendrick said.

“Then I liked the way she dropped back at the Sunshine Coast and really hit the line strongly to win.

“Rothfire is going to be very hard to beat and he’s not a $1.10 favourite for no reason.

“But my filly is very honest and has already won $150,000 and she’ll be running on strongly.”

Meanwhile promising three-year-old Eric The Eel needs to perform well in the Gold Coast Stakes (1800m) to earn a trip to Sydney.

Eric The Eel struck his best form at his second run from a break winning easily over 1600m at Doomben last month.

Kendrick is keen to send Eric The Eel south for the autumn carnival in Sydney where he’s been nominated for the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) next month.

“It was a tricky decision to see which way to go on Saturday as he was also nominated for a 1900-metre Benchmark race at Rosehill on Saturday,” Kendrick said.

“I thought his win at Doomben last time was terrific and the option was to go to Sydney this week in a big field or step him up in class to the Gold Coast Stakes.

“He’s quite badly weighted but if he’s to be competitive in the Tulloch Stakes in two weeks he’s needs to perform.”

The Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) will be run at Rosehill on March 28, a week before the $2m Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

Racing Queensland webnews    March 13