Having finished second last start in the Cox Plate, Chris Waller’s Birdman (GB) reversed the finishing order to defeat race victor Cosmic Crusader (NZ) on Saturday in the $3m G1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
With seven of the ten runners having last raced in the Cox Plate, Saturday’s race looked on paper as if it would be a return bout for many of the runners with the new blood of the Joseph O’Brien trained (soon to be Chris Waller trained) Omni Man (IRE) the interesting commodity.
Starting favourite off his Cox Plate win, the William Pike ridden Cosmic Crusader was looking to continue his outstanding form which has netted four black type wins this campaign, having not finished further back than fourth.
From the inside barrier, the Ben Malham ridden Birdman drifted back to last while Cosmic Crusader came across the back of the field from the outside gate to have three behind him in the run.
In his usual racing pattern, Ciaron Maher’s Land Legend (FR) went forward, going a few lengths clear of Light Infantry Man (FR) with Sir Delius back (GB) in fourth.
With Land Legend starting to quicken up and going six lengths clear to introduce some good speed into the race, those sitting back in the field were starting to make their runs as they turned into the home straight.
Although Attrition took the field up to Land Legend, his effort was short lived as Sir Delius was putting himself into the picture as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained runner was out for some redemption.
Just as he hit the lead, the Cox Plate quinella of Cosmic Crusader and Birdman started to charge down the outside together, with the Chris Waller trained gelding going better of the last start winner.
Scoring by three parts of a length from Cosmic Crusader, Birdman took his earnings to $5,109,622 from eight wins, highlighted by three G1 wins, and seven placed efforts.
Finishing third, a half length back from the runner up, it was great to see a return to form for Sir Delius who has arguably been below his best in his three prior runs this time in.
Cleared for takeoff ?? BIRDMAN soars to Group 1 glory in the TAB Champions Stakes for @BMelham and @cwallerracing. @tabcomau | #StakesDay https://t.co/Jk1tIuc41z
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 7, 2026
In wining the final G1 of the Flemington carnival, trainer Chris Waller took his tally to four of the eight contested over the week.
“The way he finished the race off, he was strong,” said Waller. “He hit the 200 metre mark with purpose, and he was running down some good horses. And I could see Cosmic Crusader on Aeliana’s back, and I thought, "Oh no, here we go again." But he just really launched, he said I’m here, so it was good to see. He’ll hold it now, he’ll hold that form.”
“I think he tells the story when he runs. His lead up form for the Australian Cup in the Autumn was good, didn’t really like the wet track in the autumn, in the Australian Cup, and then every run since has been good, and he announced himself early on in the spring with a good win, and every run since has been good, so just sort of stick to something that's working as well that we've done.
Having ridden the gelding in his last four starts, Melham has record two G1 victories on the 6yo.
“He’s such an honest horse, but he can have a look around,” said Melham. “In the Cox Plate, he burst through and thought he was the winner, but he couldn’t see the horses out wide with his winkers on.
“I just reckon that didn’t help us all. Today, the way the wind is, I was happy to concede a little more start with the tail wind down the back.
“Coming into the turn I was happy to get into the three-wide line which was getting some protection from the wind which was coming at us. I got on to the back of Cosmic Crusader and he did a bit of barging to get in there, old Pikey, and I was happy to smoke the pipe and get a drag up for as long as I could.
“He’s always the last horse off the bridle and he’s got a good turn of foot and a great will to win and he’s very well deserving of another Group 1 win.”
“He did have to fight. If I had my time again I would have waited another 100 metres and got dragged up for a little while longer, but anyway, he’s very genuine and a very good horse and when things go his way, he can show what he can do.”
“He's got a very good turn of foot, my bloke, and I reckon I used it up too early in the Cox Plate, but I kind of had to, to sort of make some running for him. Today he was better, just parked up, travelled up underneath me, and very explosive the last 250 metres.
“Chris has really found the key to him, the horse is in a happy place, and he's ultra effective on his day.”
Bred by Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc, Birdman is the lone stakes winner amongst three winners for the Acclamation mare Carol and comes from the extended family of Champion Filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab), a winner of six individual G1 races.
Birdman is the best of 16 international stakes performers for the High Chaparral stallion Free Eagle (IRE), who shuttled to South Australia’s Cornerstone Stud for three seasons where he covered 171 mares and now stands at Ireland’s Anngrove Stud.
