Birdman hits back in the Champions Stakes

Birdman defeated Cox Plate winner Cosmic Crusader by three-quarters of a length to win the $3 million Group 1 Champions Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Ben Melham, the six-year-old launched a surging late run in the 2000-metre feature to reverse the Cox Plate finishing order and secure the eighth victory of his 27-start career.

The triumph marked Birdman's third Group 1 title of the year and earned a $1.8 million winner's cheque, lifting his career earnings past $5 million for an ownership group that includes AFL stars Patrick Cripps and Marc Murphy. The victory was Waller's fourth Group 1 win of Melbourne Cup week, while Cosmic Crusader finished second ahead of Sir Delius in third.