Chris Waller's redoubtable import Birdman staked his claim for the AU$6 million Cox Plate (G1) in notching his second elite success—in the space of three starts—in Caulfield Racecourse's Underwood Stakes (G1) Sept. 19.
The Irish-bred 6-year-old hit his straps last spring, scoring his first win in nine Australian outings on the corresponding day of 2025, in Randwick's "pre-upgrade" Kingston Town Stakes (G3).
He followed in the autumn with back-to-back victories in Flemington's Blamey Stakes (G2) and Caulfield's Peter Young Stakes (G2), then broke through at his fifth attempt at the top level in May, taking the Doomben Cup (G1).
Two starts later, he has now added another top-tier title after a dominant victory in the Underwood, which led bookmakers to elevate him to the second line of betting for the Oct. 24 Cox Plate at Flemington Racecourse.
Solidly supported at AU$6 after his first-up sixth in Caulfield's Memsie Stakes (G1), Birdman was well ridden by Ben Melham after jumping from gate four of eight.
The gelding travelled smoothly in sixth, one off the fence and trailing favorite Cosmic Crusader as second-elect Lindermann set a solid pace, despite clear problems adjusting to Caulfield's tight contours.
Cosmic Crusader threw down his challenge to reach the lead at the 300 meters, but behind him Birdman had popped off his back and was unwinding a powerful finish.
He claimed the lead under hands-and-heels riding at the 200 meters and came away to score comfortably, by 1 3/4 lengths. Longshot Attrition took third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Cosmic Crusader. Birdman completed the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in 1:47.15.
Waller's stable foreman Darren Beadman said Birdman had "stood up to be counted" with his win, and paid tribute to Waller.
"Chris just gets the timing right perfectly when it comes to placing these horses, knowing when to put the acid on them," Beadman said.
"He ran a nice lead-up race in the Memsie.
"Before Ben went out, he said (the field) are going to pair up very quickly. He said, 'I could be box seat,' but he backed his judgment, got on the back of Willie Pike (Cosmic Crusader). He dragged him into the race perfectly. He was the fresh horse on the scene."
While Birdman campaigned over longer distances last spring—with unplaced runs in The Metropolitan (G1), Caulfield Cup (G1), and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3)—Beadman said he would be ideally suited by the 2,040 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) of the Cox Plate.
"Two thousand meters at Flemington looks made to order in a sense," he said. "I think he's a better mile-and-a-quarter horse than he is 2,400-meter horse. Keep the freshness in his legs and he's got that acceleration.
"We'll leave that to the master trainer. He's been there plenty of times and he knows what it takes."
