Peters Investments homebred Cosmic Crusader has firmed from $26 into $8 for the G1 Cox Plate (2000m) in three weeks after a resounding victory in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Cosmic Crusader is also in contention for the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in a fortnight leaving owner Bob Peters in two minds about the next step for his spring star who relished the Heavy 8 track to overhaul tearaway leader Light Infantry Man under a precise ride by Willie Pike.
Peters and his wife Sandra struck again hours later in the WA Goldfields as the breeders of LR Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) winner Royal Law.
The Turnbull Stakes was a career first Group 1 for Pakenham trainer Andrea Leek. “Cosmic Crusader is a tricky horse but he’s spot on and I messaged Bob this morning saying there will be no excuses today. I was pretty confident he would handle the conditions and thank God I was right.
“He’s had a few runs now and was as fit as any in the field. He had come on from the last run and I thought he would run the 2000m.”
Cosmic Crusader wins the G1 Turnbull Stakes / Photo: Robert Cianflone
Pike settled Cosmic Crusader in the running line and levelled up to Light Infantry Man to score by two lengths. “He came unstuck on the firmer deck last time and loved the cut out of it today. I also liked his attitude. He was on edge throwing his head about and that’s the best version of him.”
Cosmic Crusader (6g Maurice – Cosmic Storm by Street Sense) is from a G3 La Trice Classic (1800m) winner and second-dam Stormy Nova (Metal Storm) won a G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) in 2004.
He logged a Group 1 first in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot last December and commenced his current Melbourne campaign doubling up in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) and G2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. The Turnbull maintained a 50% strike-rate with 11 wins in 22 starts that sent his earnings through $2.5 million.
Royal Law became the fourth Peters Investments-bred winner of the LR Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) when he outlasted Sowar after Tash Faithfull made an early move to take the field up to the leader Lavalier.
But unlike Sentimental Hero (2025), Lawmaker (2002), Powerful Prince (1996), he didn’t sport the cerise and white silks on Saturday having been off-loaded for $12,000 at the 2024 Inglis June (Early) Online Sale.
Royal Law had failed to run a place in six starts during his first prep as a summer 3yo and was purchased by trainer Ash Maley in partnership with John Williams. He came good as a spring 4yo at Northam and Belmont and the winning vein continued last year at Pinjarra and Ascot.
Royal Law (rails) wins the Kalgoorlie Cup / Photo: Neil Watkinson
“He looked comfortable in running and it panned out well,” Maley said. “He kept going and I’m proud of him and Tash. He won the Geraldton Cup in April and we will probably look towards the Perth Cup.”
Royal Law (Pierro) has earned $428,000 and is from Royal Star (Redoute’s Choice) who was successful in the LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) of 2017. Her older half-brother Star Exhibit (Statue Of Liberty) won G2 Perth Cups in 2016 and 2019.
Peters Investments transferred Royal Star to New Zealand in 2022 and she has been covered by Ocean Park (Thorn Park) for the last four years. That first mating at Waikato Stud produced Royal Reflection who won a Bunbury 3yo maiden on debut last month. Her 2yo is a colt named Asterozoa and she foaled another Ocean Park colt in December last year.
