Cosmic Crusader has cemented his status as a premier Australian racehorse with a landmark victory in Saturday’s Cox Plate at Flemington. The win capped off an impressive campaign that saw him transition from a Western Australian standout to elite company.
This event marked the first time the $6 million Group 1 race was held away from its traditional Moonee Valley home due to reconstruction, with the six-year-old gelding delivering trainer Andrea Leek and jockey William Pike their first major career wins.
The resilient gelding showed no ill effects from his fourth-place finish as favourite in the previous week’s Caulfield Cup (2400m). He surged past the Chris Waller-trained contenders Birdman and Aeliana in the 2040m feature, which drew a crowd of 34,617 spectators.
The significant achievement visibly moved the usually stoic Pike, who allowed himself an uncharacteristic display of jubilation as he crossed the finish line.
“I don’t ever dream of winning these races, because it’s always too far to reach,” he remarked.
“I had in my mind over the line, I’m not much of a saluter, I’m like ‘don’t salute, don’t salute’ and then the moment gets the better of you and you stand up and you salute and you carry on.”
“It’s amazing, it’s infectious. (There’s a) big crowd, an iconic day – most likely the only ever Cox Plate to be run here – so it’s nice that we get to etch our name in there.”
Cosmic Crusader, starting at $9.50, recorded his 12th career win from 24 starts, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Birdman ($11). Aeliana, the $4.20 favourite, secured third place, a head behind Birdman.
Fourth place went to Sydney’s Ceolwulf, who, like Cosmic Crusader, was backing up after a second-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes. The pre-race favourite, Sir Delius ($5), struggled to finish sixth.
Leek, who assumed control of Cosmic Crusader’s training from Perth’s Michael Grantham – the trainer responsible for his Group 1 Northerly Stakes victory last year – has orchestrated a remarkable seven-run campaign. This season began with a Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) win at his Victorian debut on July 25 and culminated in this Cox Plate triumph. The campaign also included a Flemington Group 1 win in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m), a Group 2 success in the P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Group 1 placings in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m), and his Caulfield Cup effort.
Leek, a former accomplished jumps jockey, stated that she recognised Cosmic Crusader’s potential for elite success following his Bletchingly Stakes performance.
“He wasn’t over the distance that he needed to be at that stage, what he was doing then was extraordinary,” she commented regarding the Bletchingly Stakes win.
“He’s just an iron horse and he has just got better and better and better.”
“What a champion. What a ride by Willie Pike. Thanks to the Peters’ for giving him to me and trusting in me.
“I’ve said before, I feel like I’m an imposter. To step in and have a horse like this in the early stages of my career, I’m very lucky. I couldn’t be happier.”
The gelding’s exceptional performance in the Cox Plate is set to attract significant attention from punters looking for the best Australian betting sites.
