Birdman claims Champions Stakes over Cosmic Crusader

Birdman has asserted his championship credentials by reversing the Cox Plate placings with his frequent spring adversary, Cosmic Crusader, at Flemington on Saturday.

The $3 million Champions Stakes saw the Chris Waller-trained Birdman cross the line ahead of Cosmic Crusader, who had previously won the Cox Plate, in the 2000-metre Group 1 event.

This was the third Group 1 quinella for the pair this spring, following their success in the Underwood Stakes, where Birdman also emerged victorious. While briefly contemplating a repeat of the Cox Plate outcome, Waller was ultimately pleased with his horse's dominant performance.

"He hit the 200-metre mark with purpose and he was running down some good horses," Waller commented. "I could see Cosmic Crusader on Aeliana's back and I thought, 'oh no, here we go again', but he just really launched and he said 'I'm here'. It was good to see."

The victory was the sixth Group 1 win for the son of Free Eagle this year, adding to his triumph in the Doomben Cup (2000m) held in Brisbane earlier in May. This win was the eighth in his 27-race career.

The $1.8 million prize money secured by the six-year-old gelding, co-owned by a syndicate of Carlton footballers including Patrick Cripps and Marc Murphy, pushed his total career earnings past the $5 million mark.

"You like the buzz, that's why you get into these games for, whether it's footy or racing," Cripps shared his feelings immediately after the race. "It's a nice feeling. He's won three Group Ones now, so it's pretty special."

Partnered by his regular jockey Ben Melham, the $5 chance unleashed a powerful finishing sprint in a strongly-run race, with Land Legend again setting a brisk pace, to secure the win by three-quarters of a length.

Cosmic Crusader, the $3.30 favourite, achieved yet another top-four finish, his eighth of a stellar debut campaign for trainer Andrea Leek, which also included a win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m). He finished half-a-length clear of the third-placed Sir Delius ($5).

Melham reflected on the Cox Plate as a race that got away from Birdman and expressed pride in his horse's strong comeback performance.

"In the Cox Plate, he burst through and thought he was the winner, but he couldn't see the horses out wide with his winkers on. I just reckon that didn't help us all," Melham said. "I was happy to concede a little more start with the tail wind down the back and coming into the turn I was happy to get into the three-wide line which was getting some protection from the wind which was coming at us.

"He's always the last horse off the bridle and he's got a good turn of foot and a great will to win and he's very well deserving of another Group 1 win."

This Champions Stakes victory represented Melham's first Group 1 win of the week, a week that also saw him finish second in the Melbourne Cup aboard Zahrann. For Waller, it was his fourth Group 1 success of the week, having also claimed the adjacent Champions Mile with Autumn Glow.

Waller also trained a Group 1 double on the first day of the carnival, with Stormy Marco winning the Victoria Derby and Lady Shenandoah claiming the Empire Rose Stakes, contributing to his leading trainer title for the week.

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