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Michael Grantham‘s flying Northerly Stakes champion, Cosmic Crusader, has firmed into narrow favouritism to keep the wins coming on the quick back-up in Perth’s 2025 The Gold Rush this weekend in WA.

Early money is coming for the ultra-consistent Maurice gelding to make it a hat-trick in a cracking edition of the Group 3 $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) on Saturday.

One of the best performed at the Ascot track (12:5-1-3), the five-year-old scored his maiden elite level success here last weekend denying Watch Me Rock victory in a thrilling Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) success and he’s now back in distance with Clint Johnston-Porter continuing associations with the $1.23 million earner from North Dandalup.

After drawing gate nine, Cosmic Crusader has firmed in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au and has come in from $4.20 to $3.70 to add to his strong 1400m record (5:3-0-2).

He has edged out Bjorn Baker‘s fellow Ascot track specialist, Overpass, at the top of The Gold Rush odds as the proven horse at the distance.

Dual Winterbottom Stakes champ Overpass was narrowly denied when just lacking the fitness edge trying to lead all-the-way in a three-peat in that 1200m sprint here a fortnight back and now returns ready to atone for the punters paying $3.80 having also come in notably from his earlier quote of $4.60.

Following the official The Gold Rush barrier draw on Tuesday evening, the seven-year-old son of Vancouver and jockey Josh Parr are set to start from gate eight.

While yet to run in the money from two previous 1400m assignments, the Sydney visitor who ran a brilliant fourth to Ka Ying Rising at 40/1 two back in The Everest is the expected leader again and ticks plenty of boxes to hold on and add to his imposing Ascot record.

The other key danger occupying the third line of The Gold Rush betting this summer at $5.50 is reigning The Quokka champ Jokers Grin who suffered a slight blow drawing wider out in gate 10.

The Bernie Miller trained five-year-old is another who boasts an outstanding strike-rate at Ascot as a six-time winner from nine runs around the circuit.

After completing the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes – Colonel Reeves double here to kick off this campaign he went around favourite in the Winterbottom on November 29 only to finish 1.7 lengths back fifth to the upset winner Libertad.

Saturday marks his first attempt at 1400m but with Shaun O’Donnell coming back aboard he could see it out and return to the winners’ stall.

In a wide-open race a further two runners are also currently under $10 for the win with Robbie Griffiths‘ Victorian raider Rey Magnerio ($7.50) and the Steve Wolfe trained Rope Them In ($7.50) drawn in barriers five and seven respectively.

The ‘Wizard of the West’ Willie Pike sticks with Magnus six-year-old Rey Magnerio after partnering him to third when only a half-length away in the Winterbottom Stakes trifecta.

While untested at 1400m, the step-up in distance looks like it will suit this in-form galloper who is drawn to get a dream run from the alley.

Playing God five-year-old Rope Them in meanwhile has good 1400m credentials (7:2-4-0) and is the other best Winterbottom Stakes graduate in Saturday’s event having run fourth for the second year running.

The 2025 The Gold Rush is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 5:00pm (AWST) / 8:00pm (AEDT) as the penultimate race on Perth’s Saturday race card.

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