Cosmic Crusader soars to Cox Plate glory

New Zealand-breds filled three of the first four placings in a unique running of the A$6 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington on Saturday, and it was Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) who shone brightest of them all.

The son of Maurice became the third horse foaled at Windsor Park Stud to win the iconic Cox Plate, following on from New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductees Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel) (1998) and So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral) (2009 and 2010).

The race billed as Australia’s weight-for-age championship was relocated to Flemington this year while Moonee Valley is undergoing a major reconstruction. But although the surroundings were different, the prestigious race more than lived up to its long-held reputation as a battle royale between the best of the best among Australasia’s middle-distance ranks.

There was nowhere to hide in a frenetic renewal of the great race, with last-start Gr.1 Might and Power Stakes (2000m) winner Land Legend (Galileo) sweeping around the outside of the field to throw down the gauntlet and dash four lengths clear of Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) by halfway.

The challengers lined up across the track to take their shots at Cox Plate glory after turning for home, and Land Legend’s bold front-running tactics turned the famously long Flemington straight into survival of the fittest. Cosmic Crusader, who was racing for the seventh time in his current campaign and backing up from a fourth in last week’s Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), well and truly fit that bill.

Land Legend was swallowed up early in the straight by Sir Delius (Frankel), Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High), Warwoven (Sword Of State), Birdman (Free Eagle) and Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock).

Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) soon joined in with a big run out wide, and then Cosmic Crusader came with giant strides right down the outside.

He bounded to the lead with 60m to run, and jockey William Pike stood up in the saddle for a jubilant salute as he triumphed by three-quarters of a length. Birdman finished second, with New Zealand-breds Aeliana and Ceolwulf crossing the line in third and fourth.

“I don’t ever dream of winning these races, because it’s always too far to reach,” Pike said. “I left last week a little disappointed, but he’s backed up and he’s turned up.

“He’s come off their backs and I knew I was a chance. I rode better, I was calmer through the first half to the top of the straight, and he was strong through the line.

“Thanks very much to the whole team. Look how many runs he’s had, he’s just so good.

“I’m not much of a saluter, and I had in my mind before the line, ‘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. 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 is raced by his breeder, prominent Perth racing identity Bob Peters.

“I didn’t believe it until about 20m out,” he said. “I saw him coming home, but so often things go wrong and something gets up along the inside or something. But that didn’t happen today.

“This means a lot to all of us, and especially Liam (grandson). He’s so involved. He’s at trackwork every morning and attends all the sales for us, so he’s very close to it all.

“I don’t get speechless very often. I’ve wanted to win the Cox Plate since about 1973. I’ve always looked at it as the best race in Australia, and I think it’s a privilege to have a runner in it, let alone win.”

Previously an eight-time winner in Western Australia including the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), Cosmic Crusader ventured east this spring and joined the Pakenham stable of Andrea Leek.

His seven starts in this Victorian campaign have produced four wins – the Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Cox Plate – along with a second in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), third in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and fourth in the Caulfield Cup.

It was only the sixth time in the last 30 years that a horse has completed the Turnbull Stakes-Cox Plate double, with Cosmic Crusader following on from superstars Northerly (2002), Makybe Diva (2005), Winx (2017 and 2018) and Via Sistina (2024).

Cosmic Crusader has now had a total of 24 starts for 12 wins, seven placings and A$6.8 million in stakes.

“A miracle,” Leek said. “He’s just an iron horse. What a champion. What a ride by Willie Pike. Thanks to the Peters family for giving him to me and trusting me.

“I 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.

“We were always hoping he was good enough for a Cox Plate, and he is.

“He’s an amazing horse. I said to Bob this morning that I think I had him a little bit flat for the Caulfield Cup and may have done too much on the Tuesday. He was better going into today. I knew going into today I had him cherry-ripe. I was praying for rain, but we didn’t get it. He was still too good.

“I thought he could be a Cox Plate horse even when he won the Bletchingly. He wasn’t over the distance that he needed to be at that stage. What he was doing then was extraordinary. He’s just an iron horse and he has just got better and better and better.”

Cosmic Crusader is by Maurice out of the Street Sense mare Cosmic Storm, whose seven wins included the Gr.3 La Trice Classic (1800m) and three Listed races. Cosmic Storm is a half-sister to three stakes winners including the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) winner Superstorm.

Cosmic Storm foaled Cosmic Crusader while she was at Windsor Park Stud to be served by Charm Spirit. The resulting filly foal from that mating was named Cosmic Spirit and has recorded two wins and three placings from a six-start career to date for Cosmic Crusader’s former trainer Michael Grantham.