A West Australian Group 1 winner has swapped Perth for the peaceful surrounds of Pakenham for a big spring campaign that starts in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Powerful Perth owner Bob Peters sent Group 1 Northerly Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader across the country to join Andrea Leek’s camp for the spring.

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The five-year-old son of Maurice built an outstanding record of eight wins and five placings from 17 starts in WA and ran a close second to classy Melbourne sprinter Rey Magnerio in the Gold Rush at his last appearance.

Leek said Cosmic Crusader had settled in well to his new surroundings since he arrived at the 72.5-acre property she shares with her husband and fellow trainer John Leek Jr.

“We’ve had him about 10 weeks or something like that,” the former jumps jockey said.

“He’s beautiful to deal with. A real pleasure.”

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She said the rising six-year-old had enjoyed the different routine, which includes working up hills in undulating gallops – once the cattle had been moved.

“They just seem to thrive. We do it a little bit differently out here,” Leek said.

“We’ve got the hills and they just seem to really enjoy it.

“We’ve got the cows and everything out here. We sort of push the cows to the side and we gallop the horses up the hills.

“Sometimes the cows move back in our way but it usually works well.”

Cosmic Crusader has only had one jumpout in the lead-up to his return to racing, running second to stakes-winning sprinter Pop Award with jumps jockey Luca Remondet in the saddle.

Leek said Remondet gave a glowing report on Cosmic Crusdader’s effort in the jumpout.

She said she expected Cosmic Crusader to run well in the Bletchingly Stakes but added the impressive physical specimen would catch the eye in the Caulfield mounting yard.

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“He’s a big, strong athletic horse. You wouldn’t get a nicer-looking horse,” Leek said.

“He’s exciting, the boy.”

Cosmic Crusader is the highest-rated of 13 Bletchingly Stakes entries on 110.

The classy performer is the $3.50 favourite in early betting ahead of the Sir John Monash Stakes winner Winnasedge, who has firmed from $6 to $4.50.

Miraval Rose, who impressed when running on late in the Monash Stakes, is the $5 third pick ahead of the Ciaron Maher-trained Recommendation, who has firmed from $10 to $7.

Recommendation won the 2024 Bletchingly Stakes with Blake Shinn aboard.

Originally published as Perth star Cosmic Crusader targets Bletchingly Stakes for Victorian debut