Cosmic Crusader claims a historic Cox Plate & we build up to the Breeders’ Cup and Melbourne Cup Carnival

A landmark weekend in Australia – and one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar is here. Here are the stories you need to know:

• Cosmic Crusader claimed a historic Cox Plate victory at Flemington for trainer Andrea Leek – only the second woman ever to train the winner of the prestigious race.

• Giant Sequoia gave Aidan O’Brien a remarkable 13th win in the G1 Futurity at Doncaster, with the Frankel colt now firmly in the mix for next year’s 2000 Guineas

• Proxima Dea remained unbeaten in five career starts with a smooth victory in the G1 Spring Champions Stakes at Randwick.

• Going to Sky denied Lovcen the Japanese Triple Crown with a dramatic victory in the Kikuka Sho at Kyoto.

• This Friday and Saturday at Keeneland, it’s the Breeders’ Cup – 14 races, two days, and a Classic for the ages: defending champion Forever Young against 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, with Golden Tempo, Magnitude and Napoleon Solo also in the mix

• And Saturday sees the start of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington with Derby Day taking centre stage.

What’s Happened

Australia

Cosmic Crusader claimed a notable victory for the Western Australia stable of Andrea Leek, taking the G1 Cox Plate at Flemington on Saturday. Leek became just the second woman to train the winner of the prestigious race – moved for this year from Moonee Valley due to redevelopment. Backing up after just a week, Cosmic Crusader was ridden by William Pike who timed his late run to perfection, winning by three quarters of a length.

There were four G2s on the card, the first of which was the Drummond Golf Vase in which True Rebel justified favouritism for Blake Shinn and trainer Danny O’Brien. There was a great finish to the Cirka Mcewen Stakes; Smooth Chino edging out Mazu by a nose, for jockey Austin Galati and trainer Indianna Weinert.

It was redemption for Galati who was beaten on Smooth Chino in the G2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington on 3rd October, when he stopped riding before the winning post.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott celebrated success with Surfin’ Bird, who took the G2 Kia Ora Stud Mile by half a length under Jordan Childs.

Juja Kibo led home a Ciaron Maher one-two-three in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup, earning himself a Melbourne Cup spot and his jockey Sam Clipperton a first Flemington winner.

The G1 action had earlier started at Randwick in Sydney where Proxima Dea took the G1 Spring Champions Stakes under Zac Lloyd. David Payne’s filly is now five from five career and heads next to the G1 VRC Oaks.

The G2 Craven Plate went to the favourite Lindermann who beat Tom Kitten by a length, for trainer Chris Waller and jockey Nash Rawiller.

Lazzura made it two G2 wins in a row, taking The Invitation by half a length, for Waller and jockey Tommy Berry.

France

An excellent weekend for Aidan O’Brien’s continued in France on Sunday, when Drumbeat took the G1 Grand Criterium de Saint-Cloud. It was a third win in six starts for the busy two-year-old, who beat stablemate Shakespeare by two lengths in the hands of Ryan Moore.

O’Brien was at it again later, his Queenstown bouncing back from a second in the G1 Long Distance Cup at Ascot just eight days ago to take the Prix Royal-Oak. Ridden by Moore, he held off all-comers in the staying contest, beating Consent by three-quarters of a length.

O’Brien had to settle for second in the first of the G1s, however, his Capability Brown failing to catch Master Man, who led throughout under Anthony Crastus, for trainer Richard Chotard.

Hong Kong

Raging Blizzard claimed a deserved G2 success at Sha Tin on Sunday, landing the Lukfook Jewellery Premier Bowl for trainer John Size and jockey Brenton Avdulla. It was a career-best victory for the seven-year-old, who carried top weight of 135lbs to a narrow victory over Ka Ying Attack.

Ireland

Six-year-old Washington Heights made a successful trip across the Irish Sea on Friday evening, landing the G3 Mercury Stakes at Dundalk. Kevin Ryan’s gelding, ridden by Shane Gray, beat Ain’t Nobody by a neck.

Italy

There were more eyes than usual on the San Siro on Sunday, where popular hurdler-turned flat horse Constitution Hill lined up in the G2 Gran Premio Del Jockey Club. Unfortunately for his enterprising connections, he could manage only fifth behind the German-trained Stingray, trained by Marcel Weiss and ridden by Dario Di Tocco.

Japan

Going to Sky won the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto on Sunday by a nose, denying Lovcen the Triple Crown after he could only manage 14th. Ridden by Yutaka Take, Going to Sky bounced back from sixth in the St Lite Kinen in September to secure his first G1 victory, giving both sire Contrail and trainer Yuki Uehara their first G1 wins.

On Saturday, Pulvinar and Christophe Lemaire won like a favourite should in the G3 Artemis Stakes at Tokyo, beating outsider Rose Salute by a length and a quarter.

UK

Giant Sequioa gave Aidan O’Brien a remarkable 13th win in the G1 Futurity at Doncaster on Saturday, powering to victory in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle. The Frankel colt, bouncing back from defeat in the G1 National Stakes at The Curragh, was ridden by McMonagle with stable jockey Ryan Moore opting to partner Noble Exhibit, third.

USA

Bottas came with a late run to make it three wins in a row in the G2 Bryan Station at Keeneland on Saturday. In doing so, the Miguel Clement-trained colt sealed Keeneland Fall Meet riding honours for Tyler Gaffalione, putting him one ahead of Luis Saez.

There was an upset in the G3 Hagyard Fayette, hot favourite Nevada Beach only managing tenth behind winner Willy D’s who beat Stars And Stripes by a neck, for jockey John Velaquez and trainer Michael Maker.

Sister Troienne returned from a six-month break to land the G2 Valley View Stakes on Friday. Brian Lynch’s filly led from almost the start and won by two lengths under Luis Saez.

At Belmont on Friday, Mark Casse’s Americathegreat returned from a summer in Canada to win the G3 Sands Point Stakes, beating Bless Her by half a length under Javier Castellano.

What’s Happening

Australia

The Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway with Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday. Two other G1s, the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Empire Rose Stakes back up the feature, which was won last year by Observer.

In Sydney, the A$10million Golden Rose is the feature at Randwick.

Japan

Masquerade Ball is expected to defend his title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo on Sunday. Fellow G1 winners Danon Decile and Croix Du Nord make it a stellar renewal of the 2000metre contest.

USA

It’s as big as it gets in the US, with 14 Breeders’ Cup races across Friday and Saturday at Keeneland. Future Stars Friday sees an all-American line-up in the G1 Juvenile, with Todd Pletcher’s American History and Bob Baffert’s Hughes leading contenders. Aidan O’Brien could potentially run three in pursuit of a fifth straight win in the G1 Juvenile Turf – the first day’s feature.

There are nine G1s on Saturday, with the Classic a race for the ages. 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty takes on reigning champion Forever Young, with Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo also in the mix. Add in Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, Dubai World Cup hero Magnitude and rising star Knightsbridge and it’s a pulsating contest, now restored to its rightful spot as the finale of the weekend.

There are also defending champions in the Turf and Mile, with Ethical Diamond and Notable Speech aiming to repeat their wins of 2025, while Juddmonte’s four-time G1 winner Blue Bolt is an exciting entry into the Filly & Mare Turf.



One of the most devastating sprinters in the world, Cherie DeVaux’s Englishman, will be hard to catch in the Sprint, while the same can be said for Wesley Ward’s G1 Nunthorpe winner Bacio in the Turf Sprint.