Dean Mirfin’s Cosmologist ($19, Eleanor Webster-Hawes) attempted to repeat his performance in the $150,000 Mudgee qualifier, by leading from start to finish again.

Webster-Hawes took the Bathurst-trained gelding quickly to the front in the Bowermans Office Furniture Handicap (1,400 metres) and led the field alongside fellow Central Districts galloper Schedule, trained by Mudgee’s Mack Griffith, for the majority of the early stages of the race.

When Schedule faded, Cosmologist fought gallantly but ultimately couldn’t keep out a charging favourite Absolute ($2.50, Tye Angland) on his outside, the classy Godolphin gelding continuing a rich vein of form of late that includes two firsts, a second and a third in his last four starts.

Mirfin’s runner would have held on for a runner-up finish if not for a late dive by Roman Sun ($31, Kerrin McEvoy), a provincial championship hope trained by Richard Freedman, who pinched second spot by a head.

The $500,000 Country Championship Final will be run on April 7 at Royal Randwick.