Cosmic Crusader currently remains in work after his Cox Plate (2040m) triumph on Saturday and owner Bob Peters isn’t ruling out a tilt at the Champions Stakes, or even a WA homecoming race.
Despite racing deep into a long campaign – extending back to a Bletchingly Stakes victory over 1200m in July – Cosmic Crusader finished best to claim Australia’s best race on the weekend.
But Peters’ bounteous spring may not be over yet, suggesting the Champions Stakes (2000m) on November 7 remains an option.
“I’ll wait until at least tomorrow, maybe the rest of this week, to make a decision,” Peters said.
“The first day when they pull up, it’s always hard. On Sunday, you don’t know. He looks alright today (Monday).
“As long as he wants to work and wants to eat, we can keep going.
“(The plan was) it was always as went. We used the Bletchingly as a trial to get him used to Caulfield. The P B Lawrence (win) was a bonus.
“You don’t know whether you’re going to have them next year.”
Only the greatest, generational horses can produce from one spring to the next.
Moreover, Cosmic Crusader spent almost a year on the sidelines until September 2025 through injury.
But Peters says that was a help rather than hindrance for the son of Maurice.
“It’s been a blessing in disguise, really,” he said.
“He was like a gangly, teenage boy before. Plus, he didn’t really race as a two-year-old. He only had one start at the very end of the season.”
Now a fully furnished six-year-old, the attractive bay has blossomed into a physical specimen and has won 12 of 24 career outings.
And WA racing fans could be treated by a surprise presence at this year’s Pinnacles carnival with Peters leaving the door open for the Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 5.
“He’s entered. You never know,” Peters said.
“There’s enough time to go to the Northerly after the Champions Stakes. The flight leaves after that.”
Notwithstanding his status amongst the nation’s best athletes, Peters is still loath to rank the three-time Group 1 winner above an old favourite, Old Comrade, who won four Group 1s.
“If he wins another Group 1, he’d have to be our best horse because you’d rank the Cox Plate above the Australian Cup,” he said.
+ Pride Of Jenni remains in convalescence from her recent infection and will miss this Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes.
A two-time winner of the race, Pride Of Jenni was an early favourite for the Empire Rose despite a setback which forced her out of the King Charles III Stakes in Sydney.
She is still a chance to compete in the Champions Mile where she is a $6.50 second fancy behind King Charles victor Autumn Glow ($1.30f).
