Cosmic Crusader has punctuated an outstanding campaign with a historic win in the Cox Plate at Flemington, elevating him from Western Australian star to a genuine elite Australian racehorse.
The $6 million Group 1 race, contested for the first time at Flemington due to Moonee Valley’s ongoing reconstruction, provided trainer Andrea Leek and jockey William Pike with their maiden major victories.
The resilient six-year-old gelding, bouncing back from a favoured fourth in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) last week, powered over the 2040m distance to defeat Chris Waller’s duo, Birdman and Aeliana, before a crowd of 34,617.
The momentous occasion saw jockey William Pike, usually reserved, break into an unusual, enthusiastic celebration as he crossed the finish line.
“I don’t ever dream of winning these races, because it’s always too far to reach,” he admitted.
“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, a $9.50 chance, registered his 12th career win from 24 appearances, getting home by three-quarters of a length from Birdman ($11). Aeliana, the $4.20 favourite, finished a head behind Birdman in third.
Sydney import Ceolwulf secured fourth place, also on a quick turnaround after finishing second in the King Charles III Stakes. The former favourite, Sir Delius ($5), laboured to sixth.
Leek, who took over Cosmic Crusader’s training from Perth’s Michael Grantham – the horse’s conditioner for last year’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes triumph – has masterfully guided the gelding through a seven-race Victorian campaign. This season commenced with a July 25 victory in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and included wins in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m), alongside Group 1 placings in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m), and his Caulfield Cup fourth.
Leek, a former accomplished jumps jockey, stated that she recognised the horse’s potential for major races following his initial Victorian start.
“He wasn’t over the distance that he needed to be at that stage, what he was doing then was extraordinary,” she commented on 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.”
Following Cosmic Crusader’s impressive Cox Plate victory, keen punters will be checking racing betting markets on their preferred betting sites.