Peters Investments completed another title-winning season as WA Breeder Of The Year when its Group 1 homebred Cosmic Crusader won the G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Cosmic Crusader (5g Maurice – Cosmic Storm by Street Sense) reached a career pinnacle in the G1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in December and the cerise and white silks were also successful in multiple Group 3 (x4) and Listed (x6) events in 2025-26.
The Bletchingly result (Photo / Bruno Cannatelli) improved his strike-rate to 9 wins in 18 starts for earnings of $1.63 million including Westspeed Bonuses of $38,000.
Saturday’s assignment was his first since a close second to Rey Magnerio (Magnus) in the G3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot summer carnival. The leaders were giving the backmarkers something to chase but the Perth raider was up to the task when Daniel Stackhouse sent him charging home along the inside of the track to score by over two lengths from Winnasedge (Cliff’s Edge).
“He gave me a beautiful feel as soon as I got aboard,” Stackhouse said. “He switched off and I just rode him where he was comfortable. He has a beautiful, big action and I was happy to stay near the inside.
“He made up so much ground in about three strides and I knew we had the race won pretty easily from there. When you ask him to go, he can really quicken and accelerate very fast.”
Pakenham-based trainer Andrea Leek took over his first interstate campaign from Michael Gratham and indicated his next targets will likely be the G2 Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Cosmic Crusader is by Arrowfield Stud sire Maurice (Jpn) from Cosmic Storm (Street Sense) who won five black-type races to Group 3 level in the 2016 La Trice Classic (1800m). Second-dam Stormy Nova (Metal Storm) was also a successful Group 3 winner at Ascot in the 2004 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) and 2005 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m).
Hoofnote: Peters Investments also raced a Belmont winner on the final Saturday of the season when With Discretion landed the Liquor Barons Hcp (2100m). The Toronado (Ire) mare was sourced by Damon Gabbedy (Belmont Bloodstock) for $120,000 (as agent) from South Australian vendor Mill Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne.
