Already proven at the elite level in Perth, Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) made his Group One mark in Melbourne on Saturday with a triumph in the A$750,000 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

The New Zealand-bred gelding soared through the Western Australian ranks with eight wins, culminating in the Gr.1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) last December.

Owner-breeder Bob Peters decided to see how his latest star measured up in the east this spring, and he transferred him into the Pakenham stable of Andrea Leek.

That Victorian venture got off to a perfect start with back-to-back victories in the Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), followed by a third in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and second in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). Stepping up to 2000m fifth-up in the Turnbull Stakes on Saturday, against elite weight-for-age performers like Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and Sir Delius (Frankel) and dual Cups hero Half Yours (St Jean), they got the Group One result they wanted.

Cosmic Crusader was ridden by top Perth jockey William Pike, who took up a handy position in fifth as the front-running Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) threw down the gauntlet and opened up a big lead.

Light Infantry Man was still well clear coming into the home straight, and Sir Delius and Aeliana were under hard riding and seemingly not making much headway.

But then Pike unleashed Cosmic Crusader down the outside, and he lengthened his stride and set his sights on the leader.

Cosmic Crusader bounded past Light Infantry Man with 175m to run and pulled ahead to win by a length and three-quarters, with Aeliana getting going late to cross the line another length away in third.

“First of all, thank you to Mr Peters and his family,” Pike said. “They were backing me from the get-go, even when I put in a bit of an iffy one a couple of starts ago.

“It is really nice to get the job done. He was putting in those good runs without getting the job done, so I really wanted to get it done for him.

“What might have brought us unstuck last start was the firmer deck, so it was good to have the cut out of it today. I don’t think it’s quite as heavy as I initially thought, and he loved it.

“To the Leek family, they’ve prepared him really well. He’s back being edgy today. I like this version of him. I like him when he’s up and about, throwing his head. I like this version of him.”

The Turnbull was a career-first Group One win for Leek.

“Excitement, shaking, and I can’t wait to go and see the horse and see how he’s pulled up,” she said. “It was a great ride from Willie, I’m very appreciative of the Peters family, and I’m thrilled for my whole family.

“I just think he might have been the fittest in the field. He’s had a few runs now. I thought he had come on from the last run, and I just thought he would run the 2000m out.

“He’s a tricky horse, but I sent a message to Bob this morning, saying, ‘There’s no excuses today. He’s spot on.’ Thank God I was right.

“I galloped him one morning at Pakenham, and it was about a Heavy15. The tracks were closed, and they were good enough to let us work him because he was going into one of his previous races. He went across the top of it like it was a good track. So I was pretty confident he would handle the wet today.”

Cosmic Crusader has now had 22 starts for 11 wins, seven placings and A$2.52 million in stakes.

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.

While in New Zealand, Cosmic Storm was served by Windsor Park Stud stallion Charm Spirit. The resulting filly foal 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. - NZ Racing Desk

Saintly Dancer spectacular in Edward Manifold

A six-length blitz by Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark's Basilica) in the A$300,000 Gr.2 TAB One Pool Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday continued an outstanding start to the Australasian three-year-old filly season for the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and Wentwood Grange.

Saintly Dancer was bred by Llanhennock Trust and offered under their Wentwood Grange banner at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought her for A$100,000.

Meanwhile on this side of the Tasman, the highly impressive Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) winner Hawea (Hellbent) was a member of Wentwood Grange’s Karaka 2025 draft and was bought for $300,000, while the Llanhennock-bred Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) was purchased for $80,000 from that same draft.

All three could have bigger and better things in store over the coming weeks and months, and with Saturday’s performance, Saintly Dancer put herself firmly in contention for the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17.

The Ciaron Maher-trained filly was a maiden winner at Sandown two starts ago on August 19, then stepped up to stakes company with a sixth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1300m) on September 5 and a second in the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 19.

She went up to 1600m on Saturday and upped her game in spectacular style.

Saintly Dancer was ridden by Ethan Brown and strode forward to take up the lead within the first 100m of the race. She was enjoying her work out in front as she made her way down the back straight and around the far turn, and Brown was still sitting quietly in the saddle coming into the home straight.

Brown shook the reins at the 400m mark and Saintly Dancer produced another gear, putting the field to the sword within a few powerful bounds. She swept past the finish line six lengths clear of Joely (Toronado), with another three and a quarter lengths back to the third-placed Beautiful You (Hello Youmzain).

“Up to the mile today, she broke really well,” Brown said. “She’s quite electric early. I had to work with her just to get her back, and she pricked her ears.

“She got an easy lead. We were able to kick away, and Ciaron had her extremely fit for the heavy track today and she proved she’s on an upward trajectory.

“She’s got a bit of a mind of her own. She was whipping around on me before the race and playing around, but as soon as the gates opened, the job was on and she won quite convincingly.”

Saintly Dancer has now had five starts for two wins, two placings and A$279,060 in stakes. Saturday’s impressive performance moved her into equal $6 second favouritism for the Thousand Guineas.

“God, that was impressive,” Maher said. “She looked really comfortable in the run and Ethan had her in a lovely rhythm. The team have done a great job up at Ballarat. She doesn’t carry a lot of weight, but she seems to do better up there.

“First Light, they’ve got another really nice chance heading to the Thousand Guineas. I was in two minds whether to go there, but if there is a bit of juice in the track, you’d seriously have to consider it on the back of that.

“We were keen to go forward today, and I didn’t tie Ethan down too much. He found the top pretty easily, and when she turned into the straight, you knew she had a nice kick in her. Gee, she was dominant.”

Saintly Dancer is by St Mark’s Basilica out of the winning So You Think mare Thinkyoucandance, who is the dam of two winners from three foals to race. A filly by Sword Of State out of Thinkyoucandance was offered by Wentwood Grange during Book 1 of Karaka 2026 earlier this year and was bought by Mike Breslin for $50,000. - NZ Racing Desk

Qali Al Farrasha all class at Hawera

Top class mare Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) added a second stakes victory to her impressive career record when she burst clear in the concluding stages to win the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) with consummate ease.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Almanzor hadn’t been seen at the races since finishing just a neck behind Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa back in April this year.

Traditionally a strong performer in her fresh-up runs, Saturday’s performance was no surprise albeit the ease of the victory in the hands of rider Wiremu Pinn was eye-catching as she simply destroyed her female rivals in the final 100m on the Heavy 8 rated surface that had been downgraded from a Soft 7 due to steady rain throughout the day.

Pinn bounced the mare smartly away from barrier six before allowing her to settle nicely in third as favourite Circus Dancer (NZ) (Circus Maximus) set up proceedings out in front.

Eased to a position out wider on the track turning for home, Qali Al Farrasha hit overdrive at the 200m as she raced past eventual runner-up Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir) and put the victory to bed as she coasted home to score by a widening two length margin at the winning post.

Pinn was confident of victory leading into the contest and the mare had delivered on those expectations.

“She is the one I came down here for,” Pinn said.

“The track was a little bit worrying, but she is a pretty good horse, is Group One placed and I thought this was an easy kill for her.

“It was a good training effort by Mark and Sam, and she was just the best horse in the race.”

Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Westonlea Bloodstock’s David and Matthew Peacocke from lightly raced Burgundy mare Nucleonic (NZ), Qali Al Farrasha is raced by Ellis and the Peacockes.

She has now won four of her 24 starts with the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) amongst those victories while seven of her 11 placed efforts include four at Group One level, with total prizemoney earned of $718,175. - Kevin Robertson

Miss Waititi showcases Oaks credentials

Windsor Park Stud stallion Circus Maximus is an emerging sire of classic three-year-olds, and another one may have been unveiled at Flemington on Saturday when Miss Waititi (NZ) (Circus Maximus) took out the A$175,000 Listed Howden Super Impose Stakes (1800m).

Circus Maximus finished a close second behind Hello Youmzain on New Zealand’s second-season sire standings in 2026-27. His first crop of three-year-olds produced two stakes winners in New Zealand including Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus), while Paltrow Miss(NZ) (Circus Maximus) placed in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) across the Tasman.

Next month’s Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington now looms large on the horizon for Miss Waititi after Saturday’s impressive black-type breakthrough.

The Super Impose was the third career start for Miss Waititi, who was passed in at Karaka 2025 before being purchased in a deal brokered by Phill Cataldo following a placing in an Avondale trial last December.

Miss Waititi finished sixth on debut over 1400m at Sandown in June, then resumed with a strong-finishing third over 1600m at Seymour on September 10.

The step up to 1800m on Saturday brought the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly right into her element.

Miss Waititi was ridden by Craig Williams and settled in sixth place along the rail. The leaders moved a couple of horse widths away from the fence as they came around the home turn, and Williams stuck to the inside and drove Miss Waititi through that gap.

She burst to the lead and pulled away, winning impressively by two and a half lengths from Vallice (Maurice) and another New Zealand-bred runner in Cignetti (NZ) (Super Seth).

“We do a lot of work with Phill Cataldo,” Mick Price said. “We look at four or five a month and probably buy one – it’s not easy. But this one is going to the Oaks.

“Tim Porter (owner) said to me, ‘Any chance you can give me an Oaks runner?’ I said, ‘Right, we’ve got Miss Waititi, a horse that hasn’t broken its maiden status – no worries.’

“Anyway, we’ve plotted a course, and we went to the 1800m today because I thought the Edward Manifold (Gr.2, 1600m) might be a bit sharp for her. ‘Willo’ gave her a brilliant ride – followed the favourite, blew his whistle and up he went.

“I don’t think we’ll run in all of them (Oaks lead-up races), so I’m not sure where we’ll go. I know going from the Wakeful (Gr.2, 2000m) into the Oaks is a proven formula, but not every filly suits that. You’ve got the Ethereal (Gr.3, 2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day as well.”

Saturday’s performance made a favourable impression on Williams.

“The stable has always had a really big opinion of her, and hence why they asked me to go to Seymour to ride her for Tim Porter in the Bella Nipotina colours,” he said. “It’s great to be riding in her colours again, and this is a really nice, promising filly.

“Putting the blinkers on was a good move. She drew a gate and she jumped and was more mature. Just from her first-up run to today, she’s really come on. The blinkers were good. She’s got a tendency to go hard left-handed on the rail.

“She was good today, a decisive win, and the Oaks is definitely where she should be going.”

Miss Waititi’s three-start career has now produced a win, a placing and A$112,125 in stakes.

Miss Waititi was bred by Katom, Ben Kwok and Windsor Park Stud and is the first foal to race of the Fastnet Rock mare Fritillary – an unraced half-sister to multiple stakes-winning American sprinter Srumdiddlyumptious, Gr.1 Gazelle Stakes (1800m) runner-up Hamsa and Listed Inglis Banner (1000m) third placegetter Ephesian.

Fritillary returned to Circus Maximus after foaling Miss Waititi and produced another filly. She was served last season by Windsor Park Stud’s exciting new shuttler Auguste Rodin.

With her victory in the Super Impose Stakes on Saturday, Miss Waititi became the fourth individual stakes winner for Circus Maximus. - NZ Racing Desk

Astoria Brooke claims first stakes success at Matamata

Progressive mare Astoria Brooke (NZ) (American Pharaoh) claimed her first victory at black-type level when she burst through the middle of a crowded pack with 100m to run to score in the Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes (1600m) at Matamata.

New Zealand’s current leading rider Michael McNab took a path where angels fear to tread as he come from last on the home bend to collar local favourite What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) who looked to set for the win when he swooped to the front halfway down the home straight.

McNab had the Tony Pike-prepared daughter of American Pharoah travelling sweetly but desperately searching for racing room behind a wall of horses before threading her through the narrowest of gaps to set out after What You Wish For.

Astoria Brooke lengthened stride and thrust her head in front within the shadows of the post to complete a hat-trick of victories and the fourth in her last five starts.

Pike was thrilled with the win which he described as her best yet.

“She was impressive today although the strong tempo helped her,” Pike said.

“The way she took the tight gap in the home straight was good to see and I think it was her best win to date.

“She really has been holding her form well and apart from an unplaced run on an unsuitable heavy track she has been right amongst it in this campaign.

“She is a mare in form, so you do want to keep her going, but we won’t make any decisions on what is next until we get her home and see how she pulls up.

“She has got that vital black type on her record now and I don’t think it will be her last.”

Carrying the famous colours of Trelawney Stud for owners Brent and Cherry Taylor, Astoria Brooke has now won eight of her 21 starts to date and earned more than $220,000 in prizemoney.

Today’s event was the first in the 2026/27 Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series which involves nine races where horses will earn points for finishing in the first four in races across the Series, which concludes with the Prezzy Card Taupō Cup (2000m) finale on 29 December where a $50,000 winner-takes-all bonus is up for grabs.

St Lawrence back on top in Murray Bridge Gold Cup

Well-travelled eight-year-old St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood) has turned back the clock this spring and returned to top form, including his very first black-type success in Saturday’s A$150,000 Listed Carlton Draught Murray Bridge Gold Cup (1600m). The Redwood gelding was bred in New Zealand

NZ Racing NewsNZ Racing Desk

Dominant Australian debut for Hankee Alpha

New Zealand mare Hankee Alpha (NZ) (Proisir) has wasted little time in making her mark across the Tasman, with her Australian debut producing a six-length runaway in Saturday’s A$80,000 TAB One Pool (1200m) at Flemington. Hankee Alpha has joined Cindy Alderson’s Cranbourne stable this season,

NZ Racing NewsNZ Racing Desk

Impressive Matamata double for Waikato Stud graduates

Former champion stallion Savabeel, who passed away at his Waikato Stud home base in June this year, showed what a loss he has been to the local breeding industry thanks to two impressive winners early in the day at Matamata. Four-year-old mare Pilates (NZ) (Savabeel) put herself in

NZ Racing NewsKevin Robertson