Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Cozmic One

Coz & Isabela: An Update

Isabela and Cozmic One in the show ring this summer. Photo by Shawn McMillan.

Cozmic One retired from the track in 2017 to embark on a second career as a hunter/jumper. He is trained and managed by Isabela de Sousa and her father, Sergio, at De Sousa Stables in Lexington, Kentucky. Notably, Isabela and Coz appeared together at the 2018 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

Paulick Report recently published an article about their progress that can be read here, and Isabela has this exclusive update for Coz’s fans:

Coz had some time off last year, and then we turned him out for the winter, like we do with all of our Thoroughbreds. The break helped him mature mentally and physically since the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Isabela and Coz. Photo by Kaitlyn Karssen.

We had our first show back together in June of this year, and I can’t say too many good things about his performance at that show. Ever since he came back into work I told my dad, “I really want to work on the basics, make him stronger, and help him be the best he can be.” By that I mean we are doing a lot of flat work to make him straight, lateral work to keep him flexible, and gymnastics and grids to help the shape of his jump so that he can use himself better.

As everyone knows, Coz has a very strong personality and can be tricky to ride—this improves as he matures mentally, and he is making a lot of progress. He’s a big horse, and he has the coordination that his size requires. We have been jumping him so small for a long time, so he doesn’t try too hard over the jumps, which is okay. At home we just work on the shape of the jump, as the height never really daunted him.

My dad has taken over the reins for now, since I am heading off to college. I’ll still ride him when I can. We aren’t worried about how far he will go in his new career, it’s his “retirement” and we want him to enjoy himself without any pressure. With all the shows being canceled I’m not sure when Coz and my dad will be making their debut, but I certainly know they enjoy each other, and he is a happy horse!

-Isabela de Sousa

Left by Shawn McMillan; Right by Kaitlyn Karssen
Photo by Kaitlyn Karssen

Reader Interactions

592 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Just wanted to reply to Kathy Rabl and say how glad I am to hear from her again. So sad about Subbie and Graham S. I have been following them for some time and all the Aussie horse news . I think Kathy must have been the first to open that world for me. I too miss Sheena and that side of the horse world, but was good to hear from you. I was sorry you mentioned your illness. I also suffer from lung problems, but survived to get a lot older, so I pray you continue to improve. Love your stories about your horse. Keep up the posts. I love hearing about everyone else’s horses as have none of my own. Only dreams – Bless this blog and all who contribute. Love Zenyatta and all her offspring. Nancy

    • / Reply

      Dear Nancy,

      Thank you for your kindness. Sheena knew a lot about Australian racing because our two nations race on grass surfaces, do jumps and early on a lot of shuttle breeding. The USA has now become a big shuttle breeder Downunder and all the Stud farms are getting into the breeding season with a number of your top stallions coming down. Sheena loved the jumps, while it terrified me! And the crazy lady liked cricket! It was a chance visit to my local racetrack that ended up with owning my little girl Thurzel, but unfortunately my lung condition is getting worse and I rarely get to see her now. Just hoping warmer weather will let me get out to her. I just don’t want to make a final decision on her future yet, it would break my heart. But the existence of the beautiful Zenyatta drew me to my girl, both the same height and colour and similar markings, and the blog is indeed a blessed place. Cheers Kathy

  3. / Reply

    Beautiful bond with Isabela and Coz, he is so loved and happy and thriving.
    Thanks for the update and the great photos from Isabela.
    Such a treat to see the video of Zenny and her filly on the TDN edition of “Zenyatta a Decade Later”.Beautiful to see Z as a mom again and her gorgeous filly. Brought back so many great memories of her racing days as well.
    RIP Sub Zero, you will be with Graham again. Remember Sheenas’ posts showing your work in retirement and how you lifted spirits in everyone you visited.

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy,

      Thank you for sharing these three videos. Wonderful!
      So much love between Subzero and Graham. RIP

      Love Michael Blowen. What a haven, and a heaven, for these retired champions.
      Another example of love. Magical.

      Hugs and Love

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy,

      Thank you for those videos! Who wouldn’t be in love with Subzero?!! Our Sheena certainly was…

      Hugs, Kathy

  10. / Reply

    Hey There, Fellow Horse Lovers –There are a couple of things in today’s (August 31st) Thoroughbred Daily News of interest to all of us. There is a cute new VIDEO OF ZENYATTA and her baby. And there is an article about Sen. Mitch McConnell planning to introduce the HORSERACING SAFETY & INTEGRITY ACT in the Senate. As you all know, this Act has been pending in the House of Representatives and the Senate for well over a year. I just received an email from West Point Thoroughbreds urging all thoroughbred lovers to email their Congressperson and their Senators to voice their support for this critically important Act. For more info visit:http://www.horseracingintegrity.com/ and https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/

  16. / Reply

    Dear JB,
    Thanks for the videos of MB and Honor AP.
    MB is a wonderful man. Love how he smiles when he is with the horses and that twinkle in his eye makes me laugh!
    Oh boy, Honor looks great. Safe and sound for all of them. Watch over them.

    • / Reply

      Dear Ann:

      MB’s a true horse hero!

      Hope the new gate makes for a smoother start on Saturday. Safe and sound all. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        A new gate!!! Wonderful.
        My dream was to be a gate worker when I was young!
        Weird having the Derby now. Good luck to all.
        Luv ya.

        • Dear Ann:

          The new gate has twenty stalls eliminating the need for the auxiliary gate. Everyone breaks in a straight line, so hopefully start will be smoother and safer for the horses. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Judy,

      Finnick The Fierce certainly is magnificent — stunning chestnut!
      Wishing him all the best in his quest, and of course, safe and sound all the way.

      Thanks for posting the link!

      Hugs and Love

  19. / Reply

    Hi Zsters ?
    Popping in to say hi b4 treatment ends.
    Luv the links! THX ?
    Take care!
    God bless!
    Stay safe!
    HugZ ❤ prayerZ ?, vamp?‍♀️

  20. / Reply

    While I surely do agree with all of you who are rooting for Tiz the Law and Honor AP, I can’t help but hope for Finnick the Fierce. He seems to be a bit of a dark horse and I wish him all the luck in the world. Overall, my wish is simply that no matter where they finish, they will do so safely. Same goes for all the fillies running in the Oaks. Good Night everyone sleep tight and have pleasant dreams about both of the upcoming big races.

  21. / Reply

    Hi everyone!
    Happy Derby week. Will be interesting to see if The Oaks really is. “Two horse race,” and if so, who will prevail.
    More Derby bad news this morning as Finnick The Fierce has been scratched over concern about his gait. I feel SO bad for the connections of all of the horses who made it to Churchill but won’t be running. Glad they took care of the horses, of course, but what disappointment they must be feeling ?. Best wishes and safe trips to all of the horses running in a very busy two days of racing???
    As will be clear from the title, our boy Hovey had a better week. It’s not in this blog, but there are adorable pictures of Mini Mum loving on him on his FB page?❤️
    https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-diary-i-am-a-long-way-from-the-scrapheap-this-week-proved-it-724298

    • / Reply

      Dear Sandy,
      I am in stitches — this is one of the Hoverine’s funniest accounts!
      I am glad he isn’t headed to the scrapheap. ?
      Good to know that Mini-mum and he are on good terms again, too.

      Thanks for our weekly visit with Hovis! ?

      Hugs and Love

      • / Reply

        Do we know what Finnick The Fierce is called in the barn, or am I stupidly misreading? Bet it’s something ordinary like Frank or Bert. Just admire the connections so much in that situation though.
        Or is it zhuhai? (Chuckles)

  22. / Reply

    Dear Z-sters,

    Happy Derby weekend, everyone. Safe trips for all the horses and jockeys. Special prayers for Finnick and all his connections who are so disappointed and worried.

  24. / Reply

    OMG Swiss Skydiver and Gamine came in second and third respectively in the Oaks. The winner was Shedaresthedevil. That’s all I know for now. Also, I hope that Finnick the Fierce will be O.K. and wil race again. I seem to remember Pollard’ Vision, Imperialism and more recently Patch had eye issues but still raced a bit. Let’s hope Finnick gets to also.

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