A West Australian Group 1 winner has swapped Perth for the peaceful surrounds of Pakenham for a big spring campaign that starts in Saturday\u2019s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.<\/p>\n
Powerful Perth owner Bob Peters sent Group 1 Northerly Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader<\/a> across the country to join Andrea Leek<\/a>\u2019s camp for the spring.<\/p>\n \u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet\u2019s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips<\/a> section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!<\/p>\n 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<\/a> in the Gold Rush at his last appearance.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had him about 10 weeks or something like that,\u201d the former jumps jockey said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s beautiful to deal with. A real pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2018Time to move on\u2019: Steven King calls it a day in racing<\/a><\/p>\n She said the rising six-year-old had enjoyed the different routine, which includes working up hills in undulating gallops \u2013 once the cattle had been moved.<\/p>\n \u201cThey just seem to thrive. We do it a little bit differently out here,\u201d Leek said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the hills and they just seem to really enjoy it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got the cows and everything out here. We sort of push the cows to the side and we gallop the horses up the hills.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes the cows move back in our way but it usually works well.\u201d<\/p>\n Cosmic Crusader has only had one jumpout in the lead-up to his return to racing, running second to stakes-winning sprinter Pop Award<\/a> with jumps jockey Luca Remondet<\/a> in the saddle.<\/p>\n Leek said Remondet gave a glowing report on Cosmic Crusdader\u2019s effort in the jumpout.<\/p>\n She said she expected Cosmic Crusader to run well in the Bletchingly Stakes<\/a> but added the impressive physical specimen would catch the eye in the Caulfield mounting yard.<\/p>\n \u2022 Gilbert Gardiner\u2019s Blackbook: Five to follow from Flemington<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a big, strong athletic horse. You wouldn\u2019t get a nicer-looking horse,\u201d Leek said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s exciting, the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Cosmic Crusader is the highest-rated of 13 Bletchingly Stakes entries on 110.<\/p>\n The classy performer is the $3.50 favourite in early betting ahead of the Sir John Monash Stakes winner Winnasedge<\/a>, who has firmed from $6 to $4.50.<\/p>\n Miraval Rose<\/a>, who impressed when running on late in the Monash Stakes, is the $5 third pick ahead of the Ciaron Maher-trained Recommendation<\/a>, who has firmed from $10 to $7.<\/p>\n Recommendation won the 2024 Bletchingly Stakes with Blake Shinn<\/a> aboard.<\/p>\n