Victorian Crusade begins in Bletchingly
Andrea Leek is not yet sure where Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) will lead her this spring, but the Pakenham trainer is looking forward to producing him for the first time on raceday this Saturday.
The Group One-winning gelding will make his Victorian debut in the A$200,000 Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The Bob and Sandra Peters-owned five-year-old joined Leek from Perth's leading trainer Michael Grantham, who prepared Cosmic Crusader to win last year's Northerly Stakes (Gr.1, 1800m), and she could not be happier with the way he has adapted to life in Victoria.
"I think he loves it," Leek said.
"He seems very happy and we're just looking forward to seeing what he can do on Saturday.
"It's a bit short of his (best) distance, but you've got to start somewhere and it just looked like a nice starting point."
Leek said no major spring target had yet been identified for the horse who came to Victoria considered by many to be WA's best galloper with Peters eager to see how he performs this weekend.
The son of Maurice failed to gain a start in Perth's most prestigious race – the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1600m) – but was a dominant winner of the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) on the same day before winning the Northerly Stakes on December 6.
He dropped back to the 1400m of the Gr.3 Gold Rush seven days later, in which he was narrowly beaten by Victorian sprinter Rey Magnerio (Magnus).
Cosmic Crusader has not raced over 1200m since winning at Ascot in October 2024, his second win from three starts at the trip, and heads to the Bletchingly Stakes off one Victorian jumpout, which resulted in a second placing to Pop Award at Caulfield on July 1.
"He had the one jumpout at Caulfield, just to give him a look at it," Leek said.
"I was really happy with it, very happy."
Cosmic Crusader is out of the Street Sense mare Cosmic Storm, whose seven wins included the Group Three 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. She has had four starts for two wins and two thirds. - RAS NewsWire
