Saturday Summary: Rain fails to halt Flemington as Cosmic Crusader strikes

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Cosmic Crusader powers to Turnbull triumph

Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) powered to the biggest win of his career in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, delivering trainer Andrea Leek a breakthrough at racing’s highest level.

The race was turned into a genuine staying test by Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), who set a strong tempo and kept finding late to finish second. Cups contender Aeliana (Castelvecchio) was third, while hot favourite Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) could manage only fourth.

Cosmic Crusader travelled comfortably under William Pike before surging clear when it mattered, with the testing conditions proving ideal for the $8 chance.

Leek was emotional after securing her first Group 1 victory.

“Excitement, shaking, and I can’t wait to go and see the horse and see how he’s pulled up,” she told Racing Victoria.

“It was a great ride from Willie, I’m very appreciative of the Peters family and I’m thrilled for my whole family.”

Leek had grown increasingly confident the gelding could handle the step to 2000m.

“He’s a tricky horse but I sent a message to Bob this morning, there’s no excuses today. He’s spot on and thank God I was right,” she said.

She was equally confident the wet track would suit.

“He went across the top of it like it was a good track. I was pretty confident he would handle the wet.”

Pike, who has stuck with Cosmic Crusader throughout his preparation, was delighted to finally land a major victory with the gelding.

“They were backing me from the get-go even when I put in a bit of an iffy one a couple of starts ago.

“It is really nice to get the job done. He was putting in those good runs without getting the job done so I really like to get it done for him.”

The Turnbull winner had already claimed the Bletchingly Stakes and P.B. Lawrence Stakes this campaign before stepping to 2000m for the first time, with the victory taking his 22-race record to 11 wins and more than A$2.5 million in earnings.

Peters will now decide whether Cosmic Crusader heads towards the G1 Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup.

Sales: Cosmic Crusader was bred in New Zealand by his high-profile Perth owner Bob Peters.

Pedigree: Cosmic Crusader is by Maurice (Jpn) out of the Street Sense (USA) mare Cosmic Storm whose seven wins included the G3 La Trice Classic (1800m). Cosmic Storm is a half-sister to three stakes winners, including G1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) winner Superstorm (Sebring).

God’s Window makes Epsom history

God’s Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) produced a devastating finish to claim the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, giving Chris Waller his record-equalling seventh victory in the historic race and Siena Grima a dream Group 1 success at her first ride at the elite level.

Settled near last in the 16-horse field, God’s Window unleashed a brilliant burst down the outside to sweep over a brave Ceolwulf (Tavistock {NZ}), carrying 59kg, and score by 1¾ lengths while Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) was a further length away in third.

The victory moved Waller level with legendary Gai Waterhouse and the late Tommy Smith on seven Epsom wins, while at $26, God’s Window became the first genuine outsider to win the race since Final Fantasy (Chimes Square) scored at 50-1 when the Epsom was run over 1400m on the Kensington track.

Waller was emotional reflecting on Grima's breakthrough.

“I’m getting emotional for her. When she came to us, she wanted to learn. Tough is not the right word but she’s an amazing horse person. She is there every morning and is the same person every day. She is one of those real professional athletes we read about and dream about being.”

Grima produced a perfectly judged ride, following Darren Beadman's advice to build into the race before unleashing her mount down the outside.

“Darren (Beadman) said, ‘get on your train early’. I followed Plymouth out. He gave me a beautiful cart out, and when I got into him he just kept finding.”

Waller said the decision to target the Epsom after God’s Window's winter spell had paid dividends.

“He found form through the winter. Sydney racing again, 52 weeks of the year, it gives you a bit of confidence if you can race consistently. His first-up run was terrific and we picked this race out after he went for his winter spell.

“We felt we would give him the one run into the Epsom and it worked.’’

The victory was a remarkable transformation for God’s Window, who had previously managed blacktype just once in Australia from a Listed placing in The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle last year.

Pedigree: God’s Window becomes the first stakes winner for his stakes-winning dam Perfect Clarity (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). He descends from a strong European family that includes top filly Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) and champion stayer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Tempted explodes into Everest contention

Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) delivered one of the best performances of her career to explode clear in the G2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, putting herself firmly into the frame for a rematch with Everest champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in two weeks.

Ridden patiently from the wide gate by Chad Schofield, Tempted settled third last on the outside before circling the field approaching the straight. Once Schofield produced her into the centre of the track, the mare exploded clear to defeat Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) by three lengths, with Marhoona (Snitzel) a nose away in third.

The performance was enough to have Maher Racing assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord dreaming of what Tempted can produce on Everest day.

“It probably is her best win, the way she put them away. It was a very good field and she made them look like they’re nothing special. It’s a genuine Group One field and the way she quickened, which is her best asset, she’s one of a kind.”

Tempted chased home Ka Ying Rising in last year's Everest and will now have the opportunity to meet the Hong Kong star again on October 18.

“Everything she does, she’s very special. She’ll have to be very special in two weeks, but we’ll be spot-on for that. Ka Ying (Rising), if he’s at his best, he’s very hard to beat. But he’ll have to be at his best.”

Gerard-Dubord believes there could still be more to come from the mare, particularly if she finds a genuine pressure race.

“It has been her target to have her peaking on Everest day, so in terms of where she’s at, there is a touch more to come. The good thing about her is she goes on any ground and she’s got such a good turn of foot, a high-pressure race will only suit her. We’ll try our best.”

Schofield was left with little doubt about his mount's class after producing her from the back of the field.

“The problem is she runs past them in 50m so I don’t really know how to answer that. She is a machine.”

“You let her go and off she goes! I can’t wait to aim her at Ka Ying Rising. She is going to be ready to go and she is an amazing horse.’’

Tempted stopped the clock at 1:09.39 for the 1200m, running her final 600m in 34.26 seconds.

The 4-year-old has now won nine of her 14 starts, with the victory taking her earnings beyond $7 million.

Pedigree: Tempted is the standout of three winners from four to race out of G2 winner Calliope (Exceed And Excel), who is also the dam of dual G2 winner Kallos (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}). Calliope is a sister to G3 winner Zethus (Exceed And Excel) and a three-quarter sister to G3 winner Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel) and Listed winner Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel) . It's an extremely deep page which descends from G1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese (Belong to Me {USA}).

Stylish strikes in G2 Rose Of Kingston

Stylish (Lonhro) produced a determined performance in the heavy Flemington conditions to secure a valuable first black-type victory in the G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes on Saturday, with the mare making her 30th start a memorable one.

Sent forward from the outset by Ethan Brown, Stylish settled outside the leader Tennessee Bound (Written Tycoon) and travelled strongly throughout, while several of her more fancied rivals struggled to let down in the testing conditions.

Gold Medalist (Pierata) loomed as the major danger inside the final furlong after emerging from midfield, but Stylish kept finding under pressure to hold her out by just under half a length, with Bewitchery (Blue Point {Ire}) a further 1¼ lengths away in third.

The victory was particularly significant for Stylish, who entered the Rose Of Kingston Stakes having raced 29 times without securing a stakes victory, with Saturday's Group 2 contest providing a valuable opportunity to add black-type to her pedigree.

Brown was having his first ride on Stylish but quickly found the key to her in the heavy going.

"It was my first sit on her. She really relished the heavy track,” Brown said.

“She was well prepared by the boys, very fit. They said it was her grand final so I rolled forward from the gate and was able to position up outside the lead. I gave her a nice mid-race bnreather and was able to balance her up in that ground and keep kidding to her. She let down with that good turn of foot she has and she held them at bay late. Back to mares grade she was very well placed, it's very good for her pedigree and great for her owners - Rupert Legh and the crew."

Co-trainer JD Hayes was delighted to see Stylish finally convert her consistent form into a stakes victory after a frustrating run of narrow defeats.

"She has been very unlucky with her barrier draws. She was very unlucky last start and would have won if she had a better barrier but Ethan rode her very well, he was very decisive and went forward and it panned out beautifully. She came across without having to do too much. It was a long last 100 metres because we have had a run of seconds but I'm glad she got her head down for a great group of owners."

Hayes said the mare's fitness gave the stable confidence to change tactics from the gate.

"She was rock hard fit and if we were ever going to chance our hand from the gate it was today."

With the black-type box now ticked, Hayes was reluctant to look too far ahead immediately after the breakthrough victory.

"She's a mare in form and that's a force to be reckoned with so we will consolidate Monday, enjoy today, and see what is on the horizon."

Sales: Stylish was withdrawn as a yearling from the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: Stylish is the only runner and first stakes winner for stakes-placed Encosta de Lago mare Alaskan Rose (NZ). She descends from the family of 1995 Group 1 Flight Stakes winner Pontal Lass (Marauding {NZ}).

Skybird gets hearts racing in Gilgai

Skybird (Exosphere) survived one of the most dramatic finishes of the Flemington card to claim the G2 Gilgai Stakes on Sunday, with jockey Ben Melham easing the six-year-old down in the final strides, only narrowly holding off a late dive by Smooth Chino (Maschino).

Skybird looked set for an easy victory before Melham sat up approaching the line, allowing visiting Perth jockey Austin Galati to close rapidly. Smooth Chino surged late but missed by a short half-head.

Trainer Mitch Freedman admitted the result had left the stable with its hearts in its mouth.

"She's got a big handbrake on her and when you stop, she stops," Freedman said.

"I think we were pretty lucky that the visiting rider mistimed the winning post a little bit there otherwise he might have got over the top of us.

"Anyway, we'll take the win. We're relieved and we're happy to get the win."

Stewards later charged Melham with failing to ride his mount out to the end of the race. The 25-time Group 1-winning jockey pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000.

Freedman was delighted to see Skybird return to the winner's circle after a string of hard-luck stories.

"She was well placed by the team and they've done a great john prepping her up off the back of the Queensland campaign and we're thrilled to get back in the winners' circle with her because she's had a fair few hard luck stories since that Lightning Stakes win," Freedman added.

The mare could now head towards another Group 1 target, with Freedman keen on the Champions Sprint.

"We'd love to see her in the Champions Sprint," Freedman said.

"What we do now, we might head up to Sydney in a couple of weeks' time. There's some good money there to chase, otherwise we might see her on Cox Plate Day here back in trip. Plenty of options for her."

Sales: Skybird was purchased for $110,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Mitch Freedman Racing, offered by her breeder HP Thoroughbreds.

Pedigree: Skybird is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the winning Wanted mare Real Desire. She is the best stakes performer by G1 Golden Rose winner Exosphere, who died in 2024. Real Desire is a half-sister to stakes-placed Flying Along (Belong to Me {USA}) and descends from the family of Snitzel, Hinchinbrook , Private Eye (Al Maher), King Of Pop (Farnan) and Ole Kirk.