WA’s hero Cosmic Crusader had a fairytale end to his spring stumped in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington with Birdman turning the tables on their Cox Plate meeting a fortnight earlier.
Cosmic Crusader ($3.30f) drifted back to be fourth from last under William Pike, while Birdman ($5.50) and Ben Melham were in rear before latching onto the back of the favourite at the 600m.
Pike revealed Cosmic Crusader inside the 500m and soon after, Birdman was produced from his heels.
The pair made rapid inroads and stomped up to Sir Delius ($5.50) with 200m to cover and despite Cosmic Crusader rallying gallantly, Birdman had his measure and scored by three-quarters of a length.
It was the same margin that Cosmic Crusader had held over Birdman two weeks prior.
“In the Cox Plate, he burst through and thought he was the winner, but he couldn’t see the horses out wide with his winkers on. I just reckon that didn’t help us at all,” Melham said.
“Today, the way the wind is, I was happy to concede a little more start with the tailwind down the back.
“Coming into the turn I was happy to get into the three-wide line which was getting some protection from the wind which was coming at us.
“I got on to the back of Cosmic Crusader, and he did a bit of barging to get in there, old Pikey, and I was happy to smoke the pipe and get a drag up for as long as I could.
“He’s always the last horse off the bridle and he’s got a good turn of foot and a great will to win and he’s very well deserving of another Group 1 win.
“He’s got a very good turn of foot, my bloke, and I reckon I used it up too early in the Cox Plate, but I kind of had to, to sort of make some running for him. Today he was better, just parked up, travelled up underneath me, and very explosive the last 250m.
“So, the longer you can trail up behind a horse like Cosmic Crusader, he’s always going to take you places, it was only going to be to his advantage.”
Pike heaped praised on Cosmic Crusader, who is expected to return to WA for next month’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) should he be in suitable condition.
“He’s obviously had a big campaign. He’s done very well but I think it is just great racing at the end of the day,” Pike said.
“Him and Birdman doing battle. Unfortunately, he got the better of us today but still a good prep. Wish we had’ve got there.”
Earlier, WA-born hoop Mark Zahra created an upset with Point Barrow landing the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m).
The $19 shot catapulted from the back of the field to beat Plaintiff ($101) and Skybird ($31), while last-starter Everest winner Tempted ($1.70f) was only fifth.
“I was following Tempted, but I didn’t like how far out they were coming in the straight because it was out in the worst part (of the track),” Zahra said.
“I think in this race, the thing in my favour was that we were an outsider and no one really cared about me. I drew in and just wanted to be slow away, which I was, get to the outside, and following Tempted.
“She dug in and I always say the fresh horse on the scene, that hasn’t been to The Everest, is the one and she’s got the chips.”
Chad Schofield said Tempted was now in need of a break.
“She’s obviously had a long, successful preparation but it has come to an end,” he said.
Autumn Glow ($1.18f) justified her price tag with a smooth success in the Group 1 Champions Mile, beating Lindermann ($16) and Buckaroo ($15) in a Chris Waller trifecta.
