Halford hoping Cosmic can take flight in the Concorde Mick Halford is hoping Cosmic Vega can make his presence felt in the Listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes at Tipperary this afternoon. A four-time winner and successful in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas in May, the Lope De Vega five-year-old was close-up fifth when sent off favourite for the Vincent O´Brien Ruby Stakes on his most recent start. A proven performer on testing ground, the 103-rated bay faces stiff opposition in this extended seven-furlong heat, with the progressive Dunum, Group 2 winner Insinuendo and recent Listowel victor Maud Gonne Spirit amongst his rivals. Speaking at Dundalk on Friday evening, Halford said: "He ploughs away through that ground and I'm looking forward to running him. "He is in good form and it has been the plan for him for a while. He has been training well for it and his last couple of bits of work were good. "He has a 3lb penalty for winning his Listed race and there is five of them I think rated 103 and one of them rated 101, so it is tight. "He's going there well and loves a left-handed track. I'd say the trip is good for him and he would handle the ground better than most, maybe." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
