Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Cosmic Crusader’s (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) G1 Cox Plate triumph was a timely reminder that toughness still counts in racing.
Seventh-up, just seven days after tackling the Caulfield Cup, the veteran delivere d at the highest level, running four lengths inside standard despite a searching tempo. But as always, the raw time only tells part of the story.
Cosmic Crusader keeps turning up
In an era of horses somewhat being protected, it was refreshing to see Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) win the G1 Cox Plate seventh-up in his prep and on a seven-day back-up having contested the G1 Caulfield Cup.
The racing bug got me in 1991. Within a year I got to watch Super Impose (NZ) (Imposing) win a Cox Plate beating Let’s Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}), Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), Naturalism (NZ) and host of starts in what was labelled the greatest Cox Plate of all time.
What made that race so epic is this bunch of horses had been tried in many Group 1’s before that day. Super Impose ran second in a G1 Melbourne Cup at four. Won back to back G1 Epsom and G1 Doncaster Handicaps, a G1 Tancred Stakes and for good measure stopped in at Canberra to win their local Cup before the Cox Plate at the age of eight!
I got to ‘watch’ Super run in everything across four years. He didn’t always win but that didn’t matter to a young fella – it possibly made the victories sweeter.
Cosmic Crusader ran in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes first-up in July. He won a G1 Turnbull Stakes on a bog four runs later, had a crack at 2400 metres in the G1 Caulfield Cup, then backed up and won the most prestigious Weight-for-age race in the land. Any youngster getting into the sport would love that – a horse to follow all spring.
Cosmic Crusader winning the G1 Cox Plate | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He ran good time too, four lengths inside standard but had the pace on to do so. Land Legend (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) went through the first 1400 metres almost seven lengths above standard. This was a good race – don’t be surprised if Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) runs a cheeky race in the Cup.
Surfin’ Bird impressive and ready for the back-up
Surfin’ Bird (The Autumn Sun) was terrific in the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile.
Normally this mare needs a fast tempo to show her best but here she sat on a tempo that was 7 lengths below standard and pulled away. The shape of this race is ideal for a seven-day back-up into Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose. I think you’ll see her go a lot harder there.
Caddington the win of the day
The Liam Howley-trained 3-year-old filly Caddington (Captivant) was the win of the day for mine. She won the Listed Crockett Stakes going 4 lengths above standard with sensational late splits.
Her figure was better than Inkaruna (I Am Invincible), winner of the race last year, and you’d think she has the G3 Thoroughbred Stakes on November 14 right in her sights.
Soverato scores in the Tesio
The mares Soverato (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) ran the quinella in the G3 Tesio Stakes.
The winner ran in two Oaks last season but the 2000 metres might suit her better. Shockletz will go to the G1 Melbourne Cup in great order.
This slowly run 2000 metres pipe-opener should have her cherry-ripe next Tuesday – will she be good enough? She probably needs to find two to three lengths on my ratings to be amongst the finish.
Buggsy scores but the Coolmore another level
Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) won a decent edition of the G3 Red Anchor Stakes but it's hard to see any of these beating the frontrunners for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes – that race will be one of the best contests of the entire Cup carnival.
True Rebel delivers, Will Cormier travel south for the Derby?
It won’t take much to win the Victoria Derby this year with True Rebel (Rebel Dance) running okay overall time in the G2 The Vase but given the lead speed, we expected a lot more.
That’s a great segue to discuss the G1 Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney. Cormier (Maurice {Jpn}) was third there and for mine is the horse to beat in the Derby if he cops the seven-day back-up and interstate travel – it’s a big if.
Proxima Dea still unbeaten
Proxima Dea (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) extended her unbeaten run to five when taking out the 3-year-old feature where she beat Cormier.
She looked a good thing on paper and clocked the 2000 metres around 3 lengths inside Group 1 standard. She has a mortgage on the G1 Victorian Oaks – provided she doesn’t regress, which is entirely possible with an interstate trip and another 500 metres.
Quality Snitzel mares deliver at Randwick
Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel) put an agonising G1 Epsom Handicap watch behind her to win the Five Diamonds Prelude.
She reeled off the fourth fastest last 400 metres of the day to beat standard time by more than 3 lengths – don’t drop off the third placed horse Welcometotheshow (Showtime).
Lazzura (Snitzel) won the G2 The Invitation worth a whopping $2 million.
The Group 2 event was run at a genuine tempo with Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) going through the first 800 metres more than 2 lengths above standard. Lazzura’s winning time was 3 lengths inside standard and she appears to be thriving at 1400 metres and with her runs spaced – Hello G1 CF Orr Stakes on November 14.
Looking ahead to Derby Day
Day one of the Melbourne Cup carnival is this Saturday. Surfin’ Bird, Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and Unleeshing (Dundeel {NZ}) are all last start blackbookers set to run at the meeting and let’s see what they do with Cormier.
