‘It’s the best race in Australia’ – speechless Peters savours Cosmic Crusader’s Cox Plate win

For decades, no one has had a bigger impact on Western Australian racing than Bob Peters. 

And his chosen jockey of recent years, Willie Pike, influences Perth’s betting markets like no other, particularly when the leviathan owner and rider combine in Peters’ cerise and white silks.

On Saturday at Flemington, the stand-in home of the $6 million Cox Plate due to Moonee Valley’s redevelopment, Peters, Pike and Cosmic Crusader reigned supreme to win one of Australia’s most coveted races.

Peters has won all the big races in the West and a string of Group 1s on the east coast with horses carrying his own colours and others that weren’t.

But none of those trophies come close to a Cox Plate. Even Peters admitted to being lost for words moments after the race.

“This is the biggest win – it’s the best race in Australia. I don’t get speechless very often,” Peters said.

“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.

“It’s great to do it with William as well because we’ve been together since he’s about 16 and I feel really good that he’s achieved something that he wanted to achieve as well.”

Trained by Andrea Leek, Cosmic Crusader settled third last in a race where Ciaron Maher’s stablemates Land Legend and Light Infantry Man set a strong tempo, but Pike maintained his renowned composure to time his run to perfection.

He waited until the 400m to ask the son of Maurice for his effort and he responded to win the weight-for-age championship by three quarters of a length.

Chris Waller’s pair Birdman and Aeliana finished second and third respectively while Caulfield Guineas winner Warwoven finished seventh, 5.3 lengths behind the winner.

Peters and his grandson Liam embraced soon after the race as the emotion of the achievement set in.

“It means a lot to all of us, especially Liam, he’s so involved. He’s at track work every morning and attends all the sales for us, so he’s very close to it all,” Peters said.

“But I’ve also got to thank Andrea and Luca (Remondet, track rider and jumps jockey) for the way they handle the horse. 

“I’ve talked to her just about every day and worked out his work and she’s done exactly what I’ve asked her to do all the way along and it’s been a pleasure to deal with her.”

Pike has criss-crossed the country since August, linking with Cosmic Crusader second up when victorious in the PB Lawrence Stakes.

Remarkably, Pike had not ridden Cosmic Crusader in a race or a barrier trial prior to the Group 2 at Caulfield on August 15.

But he’s made regular Perth-Melbourne return flights in the 10 weeks since in a campaign in which the pair – and trainer Andrea Leek – won the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m, also at Flemington.

Saturday’s race was 40 metres further than the Turnbull in order to maintain the unique 2040m distance of the Cox Plate.

Even Pike was overcome with emotion as he crossed the line.

“I had in my mind over the line, I’m not much of a saluter, I’m like ‘don’t salute, don’t salute’ and then the moment gets the better of you and you stand up and you salute and you carry on,” Pike said.

“It’s amazing, it’s infectious. (There’s a) big crowd, an iconic day – most likely the only ever Cox Plate to be run here – so it’s nice that we get to etch our name in there.”

So too was Leek, whose husband John Leek Jnr is serving a disqualification, meaning he isn’t allowed to live on their private training property near Pakenham.

“(It’s) a miracle. He’s just an iron horse. What a champion. What a ride by Willie Pike. Thanks to the Peters’ for giving him to me and trusting in me,” Leek 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.”

Ben Melham, who rode Birdman, said he was beaten by a better horse on the day while James McDonald was proud of Aeliana.

Rachel King said Warwoven “might not have been ready for 2000m this prep” while Jamie Melham suggested fellow three-year-old Blind Raise may have suffered an injury during the race.

A prolific breeder who has supported many of Australia and New Zealand’s most commercial stallions, Peters has also won Group 1s in the colours of Arrowfield Stud and Vinery Stud, having taken shares in Dundeel and All Too Hard.

His long relationship with Arrowfield’s John Messara also saw him win the 2003 Dubai World Cup with Animal Kingdom, but none of those horses wore his synonymous cerise and white silks.

Cosmic Crusader changed that, with a coveted Cox Plate soon to be on Peters and his wife Sandra’s Perth mantlepiece.

Octogenerian Peters was inducted into the WA Racing Hall of Fame in 2019 for his sustained contribution to the state’s thoroughbred industry.

Meanwhile, in Sydney, Proxima Dea maintained her unbeaten record, stretching her record to five wins with her Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes victory at Randwick.

And her trainer David Payne has no plans to stop the Tarzino filly’s brilliant first campaign, with the veteran expatriate South African horseman switching his focus to the VRC Oaks at Flemington on Thursday week.

In a one-two for the fillies, Proxima Dea defeated Flight Stakes winner Global Goal by one and a half lengths.

Cormier was the first male home, finishing a long head away third for trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.

 “To look at her you wouldn’t give much for her but she seems to have everything – guts, heart and class,” Payne said.

“I said to Zac she will outstay them, we can’t have a sit and sprint. I told him if nothing goes, you go, get up outside the leader and go early on her.

“We know the further the better with this filly. She can go to the Oaks now. The extra 500m won’t be a problem, she will love it and we can give her an easier ride.

“This filly keeps surprising me. Montefilia was a good filly but I think she stays better than Montefilia, I think Montefilia was maybe maximum 2000m.’’

Starting her racing career with a 50-1 win at Randwick in July, Proxima Dea was taken to Gosford, then won a Midway before her Group 3 Gloaming Stakes win a fortnight ago.

“That’s her easiest win today and it was in a Group 1,” Lloyd said. 

“She is a beauty, just tries her hardest. When I got outside the lead, pretty comfortably I knew it was going to be awfully hard to get to her and then also get past her.”

Lloyd was confident Proxima Dea had the Spring Champion in her keeping with 1600m to run.

“To be fair after about 400m I thought it was game over. I have a lot of faith in her,” he said. 

“I knew how tough she was last start. The fact she was a length or two in front of the main rivals, she was always going to be the strongest late.”

Bred by Transtasman Breeders, Proxima Dea is a $300,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Ciaron Maher Racing from the North Bloodstock draft.

When Maher couldn’t sell shares in the filly, her breeders took her back and sent her to Payne to train.