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By Ray Hickson

“He’s just as good on the dry as he is on the wet’’ – trainer Peter Snowden could be talking about dual Everest champion Redzel but on this occasion it’s talented colt Cosmic Force.

Trainer Peter Snowden (Pic: Steve Hart).

While connections of his main rival, Microphone, in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick are on weather watch, Snowden said his colt will be a force whether the track is wet or dry.

“When it comes to the big days you might be a 6/4 chance but if you can’t handle it you’re 20/1 if it rains so it’s handy to say you get through no matter what,’’ Snowden said.

“He gets through either, he has the ability to handle both tracks. I don’t think it’s a big advantage but I guess it is if you can’t handle it.’’

Cosmic Force, who started favourite in the Golden Slipper after winning the Pago Pago by seven lengths in the wet, resumed with a close second in the Heritage Stakes (1100m) on a good track two weeks ago.

Snowden said fitness just got him late on that occasion, as the race fit Standout out-toughed him, but that won’t be an excuse come the Roman Consul.

“It would have been good to win but he wasn’t beaten far and he just punctured the last 50m,’’ Snowden said.

“He’s fitter for that run and it should stand him in good stead.

“I think he can win on Saturday but he will be even better with the run under his belt.’’

It’s likely Cosmic Force will head to Melbourne for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The colt was $2.30 favourite with TAB on Thursday ahead of Microphone ($2.50) who hasn’t raced since winning he Group 1 Sires’ Produce (1400m) in April.

It was reported during the week the Godolphin colt has had a bone chip removed in the break and he completed an exhibition gallop at Warwick Farm on Monday.

But trainer James Cummings isn’t keen to resume Microphone if Randwick happened to be heavy.

“We kept him back purposely to target set weights events,” Cummings said.

“From his first start he kept on improving and across the board was probably our best performed juvenile. In the past three weeks he’s come to hand beautifully.”

The weather will also be a factor in whether the Snowdens send Military Zone around in the $500,000 Silver Eagle (1300m) on Saturday.

Military Zone resumed in Melbourne, running seventh in the Testa Rossa two weeks ago, and Snowden said he erred tactically there so if the four-year-old lines up expect him to sit back and swoop.

Cosmic Force runs second at Rosehill on September 28

“I thought he could chase the speed and still run on but it was a very fast run race,’’ he said.

“He was probably three lengths closer than he should have been early and it took a bit of the finish out of him. He held his ground but he is a better horse ridden quiet.’’

The line will be drawn at a soft 7 for Military Zone and Plan B for the gelding would be to tackle the $1m Redzel Stakes (1300m) on November 2 and the $1m The Hunter (1300m) two weeks later.

And the $1m Bondi Stakes (1600m) could come onto the radar for the Snowden-trained Famous if he wins the Group 2 $250,000 Yulong Australia Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).

Famous comes off a Class 1 win at Wyong on September 24 and he rises in class with the confidence up.

“He’s a little bit of a question mark at 1500m but those runs were to give him some confidence and teach him to race,’’ Snowden said.

“He deserves a crack at a stakes race and this is the perfect chance.’’

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Royal Randwick