Nintendo Wii

Are there other ways to beat cosmic mario in the gold leaf galaxy?

I have tried to get the boost using forward, z, and a, but it doesn't always work, and I still can't manage to beat him there when it does! I have 103 stars, and this is my last. Also, I have the red/purple stars around the library and garage, and I picked up the 100 purple stars in the one area, but it won't give me the option to get purple stars everywhere else! I tried talking to the comet guy and got him to move them, but the purple comet won't appear! Help! I can't do anything else until these 2 things get solved and I am STUCK!!!!!

From Deathborn 668's FAQ: www.gamefaqs.com/wii/915692-super-mario-galaxy/faqs/50878

You will be racing Cosmic Mario to an area high up on the Observation
Tower. This isn't very hard of a fight because you can take a ton of
shortcuts. Start by following the path towards where boulders would
normally spawn. Head right and up the brown brick blocks. Follow the wooden
path past this, to the right, then left and up some more blocks.

You will pass a platform with a 1-Up. Get that if you wish, then head right
to an area with many unconnected blocks. You can Long Jump over most of
this area, so I would do so. The Star is on the next main platform. Stick
to the left since it has more platforms to land on. With several Long
Jumps, staying ahead of Cosmic Mario should be simple.