Cosmic Reign reaches for new heights

Stephen Gleeson reckons Hugh Bowman owes him a win, and the Muswellbrook trainer hopes it’s payback time at Rosehill with Highway Handicap contender Cosmic Reign.

Trips south are few and far between for Gleeson and the most recent didn’t have a particularly happy ending with Don’t Tease Me pipped at the post at Warwick Farm in May.

“It led everywhere bar the post. Who beat me but Hugh Bowman (on Difficult To Get) so he owes me one,” Gleeson said.

Leanne Henry rode Cosmic Reign to a last-start victory on his home track, her first win since she was involved in a three-horse fall at Warialda in April, but Gleeson has Sydney’s in-form jockey booked for Saturday’s 1100m-race.

Bowman is just 1-1/2 wins behind Sydney premiership-leading jockey Brenton Avdulla, who misses the Rosehill meeting through suspension.

“His manager rang for the ride. I’ll talk to Hugh on the day, though a jockey like that, you don’t have to tell them too much,” Gleeson said.

Cosmic Reign has two wins and a second this preparation, form that convinced Gleeson to attempt a Highway for the first time since Dancing Daydream finished sixth on a heavy track at Rosehill in November 2015.

“He won his last start quite well and he was entitled to get beat too. He went a little bit harder early than I would have liked but he still managed to finish off well,” he said.

“I thought he’s worth one shot down there before I turn him out.”