MELBOURNE – The Pakenham-based Andrea Leek has registered her biggest success after Cosmic Crusader took out the A$750,000 (S$666,000) Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) at Flemington on Oct 3.

Leek hopes to return for Australia’s weight-for-age championship race, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2,040m) at Flemington on Oct 24 with the Perth-owned gelding.

Ridden by William Pike, Cosmic Crusader ($30) appreciated the heavy conditions in running out a 1¾-length winner from Light Infantry Man (Harry Coffey) with Aeliana (Damian Lane) in third.

Leek said focusing on her horses had taken family pressures away as her husband John is sidelined through disqualification and is unable to currently stay on the family property.

“I think I’ve been lucky to have this focus,” said Leek.

“It’s been tough on the family, and focusing on my horses is what that has got me through.”

Cosmic Crusader – who also won another Group 1 in the 2025 Northerly Stakes (1,800m) when trained by Michael Grantham – had not raced beyond 1,800m before the Turnbull Stakes but he handled the rise in distance well.

Leek said the son of Maurice had race fitness on his side.

“I just think he was the fittest in the field,” she said.

“I thought he had come on from the last run, and I just thought he would run the 2,000m.”

It was the first time the six-year-old had seen a heavy track, albeit he had won five from six starts on soft tracks.

Leek had no concerns about the ground after working the gelding on a heavy track at Pakenham.

“It was about a heavy 15 one morning,” she said.

“He went across the top of it like it was a good track. I was confident he would handle the wet.