The spring of 2026 is the spring of Cosmic Crusader after Bob Peters' remarkable and durable gelding stormed to victory in the Cox Plate (G1) Oct. 24 at Flemington.
Octogenarian racing and breeding giant Peters broke down in tears after achieving a half-century-old dream when his 6-year-old burst from the rear to earn a place in history as the winner of the only Cox Plate held away from Moonee Valley.
Bred by Peters and born across the Tasman while his dam visited to be covered by a New Zealand stallion, Cosmic Crusader's triumph was his 12th victory from 24 starts and comes as the pinnacle of a prolonged rise which seems to only grow better as it continues evolving.
Cosmic Crusader was slightly easy in betting to start at AU$9.50 but proved devastating, benefitting from a flying pace set again by free-wheeling front-runner Land Legend to swoop late and score by 0.8 lengths.
Chris Waller's two runners filled the minors with Birdman second at $11 and $4.20 favorite Aeliana a further 0.2 lengths away in third. Three-year-old Warwoven, the AU$4.80 second-elect, didn't see out the trip and finished seventh.
The often taciturn Peters was in a rare emotional state post-race, as he reflected on realizing an ambition hatched "in about 1973". His previous best horse, another triple group 1 winner in Arcadia Queen, finished fifth as a AU$7 hope in the 2020 Cox Plate, in between winning the Caulfield Stakes (G1) and the MacKinnon Stakes (G1).
"This is my biggest win, it's the best race in Australia, it's a race I've ... ," he told Racing.com as his tears flowed. "I don't get speechless very often.
"I've always looked at it as the best race in Australia and I think it's a privilege to have a runner in it."
Peters said the win "means a lot to all of us", also mentioning his grandson and assistant Liam Peters, trainer Andrea Leek, and her work rider Luca Remondet, and reflecting on his long-held connection with Pike.
Newcomer Leek, who trained her first winner in 2021 and has now had two group 1 victories, marveled at Cosmic Crusader's capacities after he became the first offspring of Arrowfield Stud's Japanese shuttler Maurice to lift one of Australia's "Big Four" races.
"A miracle. What a champion. What a ride by Willie Pike. Thanks to the Peters' for giving him to me and trusting in me," she said.
"I 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."
Proxima Dea Extends Unbeaten Run in Spring Champion
Trainer David Payne declared Proxima Dea would take on the VRC Oaks (G1) after proving her staying power with an emphatic victory in the Oct.24 Spring Champion Stakes (G1) at Randwick.
In a race in which fillies dominated the males by filling the quinella, Proxima Dea remained unbeaten at start number six by defeating Flight Stakes (G1) winner Global Goal by 1.5 lengths. That filly's Pinecliff Racing teammate Cormier was the first male home in third, a further 0.2 lengths away.
Proxima Dea became the second elite-winning filly for her unraced dam Invisible Coin alongside full sister Gypsy Goddess, the 2022 Queensland Oaks (G1) queen.
And she's the first filly to win the Spring Champion since another trained by Payne in Montefilia, in 2020.
Bearing the same orange and blue halves, Montefilia ran fourth in two Caulfield Cups (G1) and contested the Melbourne Cup (G1) of 2022.
But Payne feels Proxima Dea, though so far only tried to 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), is a better stayer than Montefilia, hence his confidence about the VRC Oaks, for which she's now a dominant $2.30 favorite.
Though described by her Rosehill trainer as something of an "ugly duckling", Proxima Dea is all racehorse, and clearly one with a huge heart.
Starting a well-supported $3.70 second favorite, she was ridden boldly on Saturday by Zac Lloyd, clearly believing the trip was never in doubt. From the widest gate of nine he went forward to sit outside the rump of $16 hope Cormier, who led at a moderate pace.
Global Goal, the $2.80 favorite, also made a bold move under Dylan Gibbons from midfield three-wide at the 600 meters as the pace increased, but while she performed gamely, it proved impossible to run down Proxima Dea.
Payne's mare strode up to take the lead from Cormier at the 200 and, full of running, she was never going to be caught.
"I said to (Lloyd), 'She'll outstay them, we can't have a sit and sprint. If nothing goes you go. Go outside the leader and go early on her'," said Payne, confirming an Oaks start.
"The extra 500 meters won't be a problem. The further the better. She'll love it. And you can give her a bit of an easier ride."
