After finishing second in last year’s edition of The Everest (1200m), Masked Crusader looks to be on track to go one better in 2022.
The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes-trained gelding had his first public trial ahead of the spring at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday over 900m, closing off strongly behind O’president and fellow Everest contender Mazu.
In four runs since The Everest, Masked Crusader hasn’t finished better than fifth, while he’s been beaten four lengths or more in all four runs, but jockey William Pike believes he is “back to his best”.
“It was a nice trial, a bit back to his usual self,” Pike told Sky Racing.
“He relaxed early and he really thundered home to the line.
“He feels like he’s back to his best, and the trial definitely suggested that.”
More big guns headed out to trial at Rosehill today!
O’President taking out the star studded Trial 1 with #TABeverest contenders Masked Crusader and Mazu cruising into the minor placings. pic.twitter.com/i45JsokPD3
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 22, 2022
Masked Crusader is expected to follow a similar path towards The Everest as he did last year, with The Shorts (1100m) and the Premiere Stakes (1200m) logical lead-up races, while he could begin his preparation in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 3.
On a similar route to The Everest is the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Mazu.
The four-year-old has won his last six starts, with his most recent coming in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in May.
The son of Maurice also had his first hitout on Tuesday, finishing eight-tenths of a length in front of Masked Crusader.
Regular rider Sam Clipperton sat on the $1.75 million earner in Tuesday’s barrier trial, saying the horse did everything he normally does.
“He just gave me his normal feel this morning,” Clipperton told Sky.
“I was really pleased with his trial this morning. It’s basically exactly what I was hoping he’d trial like, and he’s done just that.
“It’s early days yet, but he’s back and it’s good to have a sit on him under somewhat competitive conditions and I couldn’t have been happier with how he went.”
Mazu is yet to lose a race since being gelded, which Clipperton believes was a “massive turning point” in the horse’s racing career.
“He was very good last preparation once he was gelded – I think that was a massive turning point in the horse’s career – but he could have easily come out and trialled a bit fresh being his first trial and feeling quite well,” the jockey continued.
“But he kept a lid on things, was pretty good in the barriers, jumped quick and settled well for me in behind the speed.
“He’s ticked a nice box for us today and onwards and upwards for him.”
Mazu sits on the second line of betting for The Everest at $8, while online bookmakers have Masked Crusader rated a $15 chance for the October 15 feature at Royal Randwick.
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