COSMEENA DUCKS HOME FOR VELLA

TUESDAY: October 1, 2024: IT was a quacking good result for Michael Vella at Newcastle today.

The Londonderry duck farmer and Hawkesbury hobby trainer won his first race in nine years when lightly-raced filly Cosmeena shed her maiden status at only her second start.

Ridden by Louis Beuzelin, Cosmeena ($11) won the Provincial Maiden Plate (1250m).

She made light of her outside draw by sustaining a strong burst in the straight to hit the front and then hold off Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer’s Sleepy’s Girl ($20) and Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan’s $2.05 favorite Rennata.

Vella and his wife Barbara-Anne have a duck farm at Londonderry, about 15 minutes from Hawkesbury racecourse, and race the daughter of Cosmic Force themselves.

“I am contracted to supply ducks to Pepe’s Ducks at South Windsor, and have an owner-trainer’s licence,” Vella said this evening.

“We have only two horses in work (the other is five-year-old gelding Belgrano, who has been placed twice from six starts), and take them to the track six mornings a week.”

Vella and his wife purchased Cosmeena from Rheinwood Pastoral Company at Moss Vale after seeing her advertised online.

“We went to have a look at her at the property, and were quite impressed,” Vella explained.

“We paid $6000, but it cost us more to get her broken-in and then educate her and get her ready to finally begin racing as an early three-year-old.

“Winning today was a bit of a surprise, but a nice result just the same (first prizemoney was $21,000).

“Cosmeena ran sixth on debut at Hawkesbury last month, and I thought she might be a place chance at best.”

Vella’s filly is a daughter of the unraced Snitzel mare Occasio, who has been retired from breeding.

Cosmeena was only the trainer’s eighth starter this calendar year, and his first success since Princess Maher scored at Bathurst in June, 2015.

“I had a really nice horse Master Mondo, who won three races in a row at Kembla Grange, Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm earlier in 2015,” Vella said.

“He raced only four times for me, and was sold to Hong Kong.”

Vella was the 16th Hawkesbury trainer to enjoy success in just over the first two months of the new season, and Cosmeena was the Hawkesbury training base’s 37th winner since August 1.