The race to scale The Everest hots up as Mazu and Masked Crusader trial at Rosehill

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Mazu and Masked Crusader, who will clash in the 1200-metre sprint at Randwick on October 15, finished second and third respectively behind the Bjorn Baker-trained O’President (Fastnet Rock) in the 900-metre trial.

The Triple Crown Syndications-raced Mazu travelled smoothly under Sam Clipperton to finish the better of the pair, 3.52l in second, while Masked Crusader was another 0.79l further back in third.

Mazu will represent The Star and Arrowfield Stud in The Everest and the son of Maurice (Jpn) will be looking to hand Chris and Michael Ward’s Triple Crown Syndications and co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden a third win in the lucrative sprint, with their former star Redzel (Snitzel) having landed the first two runnings of the event in 2017 and 2018.

Maturity is key

Mazu was in dominant form last season, landing the six races he contested, including the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and G1 Doomben 10,000 and Chris Ward of Triple Crown Syndications told TDN AusNZ he was delighted with what he saw from Mazu on Tuesday morning, believing he has come back a more mature horse.

“We’ve been really looking forward to getting him back. He certainly seems to have matured a little bit more physically and a little bit more mentally as well,” he said.

“I thought what he did today (Tuesday) was excellent and it was just what we wanted to see. He flew the gates, but then as soon as Sam (Clipperton) asked him to ease in behind he did that well and relaxed well, so you can see he is certainly maturing mentally which is only going to help him moving forward.

“He has taken a step forward physically, but I do think he has a bit more to go as well and he will continue to mature over the next 12 months. Like his stallion, he certainly improved with age and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this bloke do exactly the same thing.”

'The world is his oyster'

Ward knows what it takes to win The Everest and he said he can identify similarities between Mazu and his dual winner Redzel.

“They are both brilliantly fast horses and like to be up front, either leading or just behind the speed and then can absorb the pressure before finding again in the straight when they need to and that defines why they are as good as they are or were in Redzel’s case, because they can kick off on top of that pressure,” he explained.

“The main difference is that Mazu in time might just get a little bit further than the 1200 metres, but Redzel’s limit was probably the 1200 metres and that is exciting because it opens up other possibilities and options.

“Only time will tell, but as he continues to mature it looks like the world is his oyster.”

Meanwhile, Clipperton echoed Ward’s sentiments, believing the gelding operation signalled a turning point for the gelding.

“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,” Clipperton told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“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.

“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.”

The gelding will have a second trial next Thursday before heading to his first-up assignment in The Shorts H. on September 17, where he will likely clash with another The Everest contender in the shape of Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

Meanwhile, he may also run into last year’s The Everest winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) with Chris Waller revealing on Tuesday his stable star could also be unleashed in the 1100-metre sprint at Randwick.

Back in the groove?

Masked Crusader will be looking to go one better than his second-place finish in last year’s edition of The Everest, but the Team Hawkes-trained gelding will have to put a poor autumn behind him if he is going to etch his name onto the $15 million race’s Roll Of Honour.

The son of Swettenham Stud resident Toronado (Ire) kicked off last year’s spring preparation with a win in the G3 Heath S., before placing fifth in the G2 Shorts H. He then went on to win the G2 Premiere S., before running Nature Strip within 0.2l in the grand finale at Randwick.

However, after that brilliant run, the gelding struggled for form, with his best placing in three starts during the autumn coming when finishing fifth in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S.

Ridden on Tuesday morning by William Pike, Masked Crusader, who will represent Max Whitby and Neil Werrett in The Everest, is likely to follow a similar path to last year, but may get his preparation underway in the G3 Concorde S. on September 3.

Pike said the trial gave him every indication the gelding was back to his best and was looking forward to the 6-year-old getting his preparation underway.

“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.”

Eye-catcher of the day

The TDN AusNZ’s eye-catcher of the morning at Rosehill was the Chris Waller-trained Demiana (I Am Invincible), who stepped out in Heat 8 over 900 metres and could be one to keep an eye on, especially given she holds a nomination for the G1 Thousand Guineas.

The Star Thoroughbreds-owned unraced 3-year-old filly broke well from the barriers under Hugh Bowman, who slipped her behind the leader Long Memory (NZ) (Lonhro). After rounding the turn, Bowman asked the filly for more and she responded impressively to come home 0.93l in front of Poetic Drama (NZ) (Proisir), stopping the clock at 54.29s.

Purchased by Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $320,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of her breeder Musk Creek Farm, Demiana is out of Deipara (Lonhro) and she is herself a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky).