Photo Credit: RaceForm
Many stud farms dream of seeing just one horse foaled on their property go on to triumph in a race like the Gr.1 Cox Plate, but the Windsor Park Stud team has now had that euphoric feeling four times.
Three horses foaled at the Cambridge nursery have etched their name on the honour roll of the race dubbed the weight-for-age championship of Australasia – Might And Power in 1998, So You Think in 2009 and 2010, and now Cosmic Crusader in last Saturday’s unique one-off running at Flemington.
“It’s a wonderful thing and a huge thrill,” said general manager Steve Till, who has been part of the tight-knit Windsor Park team for more than 40 years.
“The Cox Plate has been a very special race for Windsor Park. There was one year, around the Might And Power time, when we had four runners in the race that were either bred on the farm or came from the farm.
“To keep on producing such great horses is a real credit to the farm and to the Schick family’s philosophy, which was put in place by Nelson and Sue and has been carried on by Roddy.
“Giving horses space has been a key component of our success. We’ve got a few farms and are able to spread the horses around and put them on different contours and soil types. We’ve always believed that the more space you give them, the better your chances are.
“Even with the improved genetics today, that space – along with the climate – still give us something of an advantage.
“Those components mean we can still keep breeding, foaling, rearing and raising horses that can compete on that big stage.
“We’ve been doing this for five decades now, and to still be producing horses capable of doing what Cosmic Crusader has done this spring is something that we’re very proud of.
“We have a great team of staff here who all make really valuable contributions to raising these horses and bringing about these end results that we get to celebrate.”
Bred and raced by a giant of the Western Australian industry in Bob Peters, Cosmic Crusader is by Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice out of the Street Sense mare Cosmic Storm. In her own 21-start career carrying Peters’ distinctive cerise colours, Cosmic Storm won seven times including the Gr.3 La Trice Classic and the Listed Belmont Oaks, Jungle Mist Classic and Starstruck Classic.
Cosmic Crusader has eclipsed those achievements in a 24-start career that has so far produced 12 wins – three at Group One level – plus seven placings and over A$6.8 million in stakes.
Previously an eight-time winner in Perth, Cosmic Crusader ventured east for his 2026 spring campaign and joined the Pakenham stable of Andrea Leek. She has guided him through an epic seven-race campaign that started with victory in the Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes back in July, followed by a win in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes, a third in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes, second in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes, victory in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes, a fourth in the Caulfield Cup and his Cox Plate triumph.
Cosmic Crusader was born while Cosmic Storm was staying at Windsor Park ahead of a mating to Charm Spirit. The filly foal that resulted from that mating was named Cosmic Spirit and has had six starts so far for two wins and three placings.
“Cosmic Crusader has been another real credit to Bob Peters and the operation that he runs,” Till said. “He’s been tremendously successful over a long period of time, and he’s been a great supporter of Windsor Park and the New Zealand industry in general with the stallions he’s bred his mares to.
“I remember Cosmic Crusader being a very good foal. The mares that Bob had staying with us at that time were quite sizeable, rangy types and very well-bred, and Cosmic Crusader’s mother was a high-class racemare herself.
“Bob loves the breeding side of things and the genetics. When he chooses his matings, he takes genetic backgrounds into strong consideration. He’s backed some of our stallions, even when they’ve been relatively unproven, and has had some fantastic success.
“We had Cosmic Crusader here until March. He was a good, well-made, strong foal and pretty straightforward. He was a really good sort to do anything with, generous-natured, and it’s been a pleasure to watch what he’s gone on to achieve for Bob.”
Cosmic Crusader’s career-defining campaign has been part of a highly successful spring for graduates of Windsor Park Stud. Another highlight came with last Saturday’s Gr.3 War Decree Stakes victory by Sword Of Stars (by Sword Of State out of Windsor Park homebred Angelica Hall, from one of the farm’s most prolific families), while Satono Glow will attempt to complete a massive Flemington double for Windsor Park when she lines up in this Saturday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“It’s been a very good season so far, and long may it continue,” Till said. “Seeing Sword Of Stars win the Group Three the other day was really exciting, and With Grace is another one that’s heading to the New Zealand Cup after putting together a terrific run of form. They’re good representatives of our formula and the processes that we have here.
“Satono Glow is another one. Phil Chen bred her here with us and we raised her through until she was a yearling. She was a lovely style of horse, neatly made and just used herself so well. She was a very athletic filly and had a quality temperament.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing her run in the Coolmore. She’s shaping up to be quite an exciting filly and another horse to hopefully fly the New Zealand flag in Group One races in Australia.”
