Cosmic Crusader dominates Bletchingly Stakes in first start for Andrea Leek
A former Perth galloper, Cosmic Crusader, has made an immediate impact on the eastern seaboard, claiming the season's final Stakes race at Caulfield.
In his inaugural start for the Andrea Leek stable, Cosmic Crusader captured the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on Saturday. This victory follows his second-place finish in the Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot back in December.
That performance at Ascot occurred just a week after Cosmic Crusader's win in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m).
Partnered with Daniel Stackhouse and starting as the well-supported $3.60 favourite, Cosmic Crusader won by a margin of 2-½ lengths over Winnasedge ($4.20). Recommendation ($7.50) secured third place, an additional 1-½ lengths behind the runner-up.
Leek extended her thanks to owner Bob Peters for entrusting Cosmic Crusader to her Pakenham stable, providing her with her first Stakes success.
"The Peters family (have been great), especially Bob for giving me this horse, entrusting me with him, it's fantastic," Leek said. "I have to give a little shout-out to Tom Ahern. He had a little wind procedure when he was out spelling and that has worked.
"I was happy where he was back in the run. I was thrilled when he got that cover for a short amount of time.
"He (Stackhouse) rode him to get further distance, he rode him to win and I couldn't be happier."
Leek mentioned that discussions with Peters would confirm Cosmic Crusader's future racing plans, but indicated that the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15 and the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), also at Caulfield two weeks later, are likely considerations.
Stackhouse described Cosmic Crusader as a "beautiful" horse, while also noting his quirky tendencies.
"As soon as I sat on him and cantered down, he dropped his head and gave me a beautiful feel," Stackhouse revealed. "He's a bit of a quirky sort of horse though. He can lose his marbles a little bit, but as soon as we got a man behind the gates with him, he settled nice.
"I rode him where he was comfortable and I was always happy to go up on the inside.
"He switches off at the right time and when you ask him to go, he can accelerate very fast.
"He's got a lot better races to win than this, but it's a nice race to win for the team."
Check out the racing odds for the Bletchingly Stakes at Australian betting sites.
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