An early start to the Wednesday meeting at Caulfield has produced a race to race double for Swettenham Stud’s promising young sire Toronado (IRE).
Team Hawkes have taken a patient approach with three year-old gelding Masked Crusader, who was bought for $340,000 out of the Gilgai Farm draft from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by Hawkes Racing / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock, making him the most expensive yearling by Toronado sold so far in the Southern Hemisphere.
Masked Crusader did plenty wrong when finishing fifth on debut at Wyong last month, but switched to Melbourne looked a new horse when bolting clear to win the 1200 metre maiden by nearly four lengths as favourite.
He travelled behind the leaders for James Winx and when asked to accelerate quickly stormed away to post the easiest of wins.
"It's only a maiden but when he dropped them - wow," Winks said.
"He just struggled around the bend, I just had to wait for him to get his action and drop. When he gained his composure, he just left them behind.
"The best thing about it is that if he had something to go with him, he would have had something more to give. He's up there with the better horses that's for sure."
Masked Crusader runs for an ownership group that includes Rupert Legh, who has been involved with 101 winners in 2019!
Bred by Gigai Farm, most famous for having bred and sold Black Caviar and All too Hard, Masked Crusader is a half-brother to stakes-placed Outlaw Kate and is the second winner from She’s Got Gears, a stakes-winning daughter of Invincible Spirit (IRE).
Gilgai Farm will offer the current yearling from She’s Got Gears, a colt by Sebring, as Lot 762 at Magic Millions 2020.
The following race was won by Toronado filly Mrs Beckham, a homebred for New Zealand breeder Kevin Hickman of Valachi Downs.
Trained by Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Mrs Beckham also ran out an impressive winner taking the 1440m maiden by three lengths at her fifth start.
"She's always shown us a lot from the start when she arrived from New Zealand late last year," said co-trainer Simon Zahra.
"We've done a fair bit with her and now she's gradually improving. When she learns how to chill out and race properly she'll be a nice filly."
Mrs Beckham is the first winner for Posh, a placed half-sister by Zabeel to Group III placed Massa Lu from the family of Group I winners Zeditave, Melito and Norzita.
Masked Crusader and Mrs Beckham are two promising types for High Chaparral’s quality son Toronado, who has had over 120 foals born this spring.
