Rob Heathcote declares unbeaten sprinter Cosmo Centaurus ‘Most exciting horse since Rothfire’

Rob Heathcote is unleashing unbeaten Cosmo Centaurus on Saturday and he hasn’t been this excited about a young horse in his stable since the early days of Group 1 winner Rothfire.

Rob Heathcote thinks Cosmo Centaurus is the most exciting young horse since Group 1 winner Rothfire but now he wants the unbeaten sprinter to frank that lofty assessment.

Cosmo Centaurus has won a pair of races on the Sunshine Coast in fine style but now steps up to tackle the big league of the $125,000 QTIS Jewel Prelude 3YO (1110m) at Doomben on Saturday.

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While many of his rivals will have the rich $500,000 QTIS Jewel 3YO on the Gold Coast a fortnight later as a big goal, Cosmo Centaurus is not a QTIS horse and instead Heathcote is eyeing him off as a serious Queensland winter carnival prospect.

Heathcote is half a world away on a skiing holiday with family in Japan can’t wait to watch from afar as Cosmo Centaurus tries to make it three from three.

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“He’s probably the most exciting horse I have had in my stable since Rothfire’s early days,” Heathcote said.

“Someone asked me if I was telling people he is better than Rothfire.

“But I never said that.

“All I said is that I think he is the most exciting horse I have had since Rothfire.

“He’s got to prove it yet, he hasn’t proved it up until now.”

Unbeaten galloper Cosmo Centaurus steps up in grade on Saturday at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Bookmakers have Cosmo Centaurus as the $3.80 favourite to continue on his winning ways on Saturday.

Apprentice jockey Bailey Wheeler retains the ride on Cosmo Centaurus and will need to be at his brilliant best to guide the gelding to victory from barrier 13.

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Heathcote has no second thoughts about running Cosmo Centaurus on Saturday as he wants to see if he has a proper winter carnival contender on his hands.

“It is easy to blow one’s trumpet and I do think this horse is very exciting, but he has got to get more done and he needs to get more runs on the board before the winter carnival,” Heathcote said.

“He’s won a maiden race and a nice three-year-old race at Caloundra and now he is coming up against some good, quality three-year-old horses.

“If he knocks off Saturday’s race we can get serious about the winter carnival.”

Cosmo Centaurus has won his two races over the nippy 1000m trip but Heathcote insisted it “is way too short for him”.

“He is only winning those races on his natural ability alone,” he said.

Bookmakers have Tony Gollan’s last start winner, filly Surprise Honey, marked as the $4.80 second pick with Rockhampton rocket Astapor at $7.

Originally published as Rob Heathcote declares unbeaten sprinter Cosmo Centaurus ‘Most exciting horse since Rothfire’