Cosmic Crusader fulfils Cox Plate dream

The victory of Maurice’s son Cosmic Crusader, defeating Birdman & Castelvecchio’s daughter Aeliana in this year’s unique $6 million MVRC W.S. Cox Plate G1 over 2040 metres at Flemington, sparked bright memories across more than a half-century of horse-racing.

Celebrated Western Australian owner-breeder Bob Peters remembered his first experience of a Cox Plate, in 1973 when the Bart Cummings-trained 3YO colt Taj Rossi narrowly defeated Swell Time. He went on to win the Victoria Derby, George Adams Handicap (now the Champions Mile) and Sandown Guineas on successive Saturdays and was named that season’s Horse of the Year.

Memories too of WA hero Northerly’s majestic sweep through the Melbourne Spring of 2002, culminating in his second Cox Plate victory, one of 9 Group 1 wins in a stellar career that earned him Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame honours. 

And the awe-inspiring sight of Maurice’s mighty engine powering up to win the 2016 Hong Kong Cup G1 – his final race and 6th Group 1 victory – from a near-impossible position, third-last on the rail and 20 lengths behind a tearaway leader. 

Almost 10 years later his superstar son Cosmic Crusader (ex Cosmic Storm by Street Sense) has won the Cox Plate for Bob Peters who described it as “The best race in Australia by a long way. It’s weight-for-age at 2000 metres. It’s a real test.”

THE WIZARDS FROM THE WEST HAVE DONE IT‼️ COSMIC CRUSADER IS THE COX PLATE CHAMPION 🩷 https://t.co/V6MWWB0xt5

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 24, 2026

The 6YO gelding, a Group 1 winner last season in Perth before his transfer to Andrea Leek’s Pakenham stable, has spear-headed Maurice’s exuberant Spring with Group wins at 1200m and 1400m, the Turnbull S. G1 over 2000 metres, two Group 1 placings and a 4th in the 2400-metre Caulfield Cup G1.

Huge effort by Cosmic Crusader to be up and winning a Bletchingly & Lawrence Stakes so early in the spring period, adding a Turnbull, doing a Caulfield Cup run into Cox Plate and winning. That’s a proper old school preparation that you don’t see deliver often these days.
– Shane Anderson @Globalgallop on X

Cosmic Crusader, 3YOs Icelady, Kosaji & Murshidi and ageless sprint marvel Mazu have so far added 7 stakes wins to Maurice’s CV this Spring. They have also compiled most of the $8.4 million that now puts Maurice in the No. 2 spot on the current Australian General Sires’ Premiership, ahead of champion sires Snitzel (3rd), I Am Invincible (5th), Zoustar (7th) and Written Tycoon (12th). Snitzel, by the way, is the only other member of that group to sire a Cox Plate winner: Shamus Award in 2013.

But that’s not all of Maurice’s news out of Saturday. 3YO colt Cormier was 3rd in the ATC Spring Champion S. G1 and Mazu finished 2nd in the MVRC Ian McEwen S. G2.

His likely upcoming runners include Cormier, Murshidi, Vallice in the Victoria Derby G1, Your Colour in the VRC Oaks G1, 2YO colt Torshavn in the $1 million Golden Gift LR and Cosmic Crusader is nominated for major races during Perth’s Ascot Racing Carnival. 

And in Japan Maurice’s Northern Farm-bred 2YO daughter Pulvinar became his 39th stakeswinner when she took out the Tokyo Artemis S. 1600m G3 at her second start.

 G3 1600m 2yo Fillies Artemis Stakes at a wet Tokyo : Won by 2f PULVINAR (Maurice x Culminar (Deep Impact)) under Christophe Lemaire 1:35.8 Perfect 2 for 2 now Dam CULMINAR ran 2nd in the Oka Sho and 3rd in the Oaks in her classic year. Won 2 from 5 overall. This race won previously by LYS GRACIEIX – LUCKY LILAC – SODASHI – CERVINIA etc etc #JRA https://t.co/VlLi01oYIH

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) October 24, 2026