The superlatives were flowing when Masked Crusader recorded three consecutive wins last year. Still, he let punters down in three subsequent outings, so Team Hawkes kept him away from stakes company, until Saturday.
The son of Toronado (IRE) has started favourite in all eight starts to date and his supporters stuck thick in the Group III Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick.
With Tommy Berry in the saddle, Masked Crusader came with a barnstorming finish to defeat Southern Lad (Ocean Park) by two lengths with Victorem (I Am Invincible) a long-head back in third.
“It was a great effort. He was a little bit tardy away,” Michael Hawkes said.
They probably didn’t go overly hard and he probably over-raced a bit at some stages. Tommy just helped him, tried to nurse him. The only thing we said was get to the top of the rise and let him balance up. He really put paid to them.
“He’s back, he looks great, bigger and stronger. Who knows where he’ll end up.”
A $340,000 purchase by Hawkes Racing / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock out of the Gilgai Farm draft at the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Masked Crusader advances his record to four wins a second and a third from eight starts with earnings of $222,775.
The most expensive yearling sold at public auction by his sire, Masked Crusader is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Listed VRC Ottawa Stakes winner She’s Got Gears (Invincible Spirit).
Purchased by Dermot Farrington for $700,000, on behalf of Gilgai Farm, at the 2015 National Broodmare Sale, She’s Got Gears has a 2yo colt by Sebring named Insurgence, purchased by China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/ Stonestreet for $825,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She’s Got Gears has not had a foal in the past two seasons. She was covered by Toronado (IRE) again last spring.
Masked Crusader becomes the ninth stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s shuttler Toronado (IRE).
