Tommy Berry has had to learn the hard way that Masked Crusader is no Chautauqua but the sprinter is an undeniable talent in his own right.
The Hawkes Racing five-year-old underlined his Everest claims with a dashing win in Saturday’s Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and Berry is adamant there is improvement to come.
Berry was the regular rider of multiple Group 1 winner Chautauqua, who was able to win races from seemingly impossible positions, and while Masked Crusader isn’t quite in that league, he possesses a similarly devastating turn of foot on his day.
“I realise how easy it was when I was riding him (Chautauqua) now because you could just go back and loop the field,” Berry said.
“He’s no Chautauqua this guy. He’s a very good horse but you don’t get horses like Chautauqua coming around very often.
“I’ve had to learn that, so I cut the corner on him today, hoped for a bit of luck and it worked out thank God.”
Starting a $2.50 favourite, Masked Crusader settled last in the Premiere Stakes (1200m) and was facing a wall of horses when he balanced for home.
Berry admitted he began fearing the wrath of co-trainer John Hawkes if he couldn’t find a passage through and was relieved when Rothfire began to weaken and a run presented to that horse’s outside.
“I felt John’s hands around my neck just loosen when that run came,” Berry said.
“He hasn’t had the best of luck this horse.
“He jumped OK today, but he still didn’t muster speed. I never travelled really for most of the race. They did go quite quick.
“Because he wasn’t dragging me up to the corner, I let him cut the corner and come through them a little bit and he sprinted very well.
“I’ll tell you what, he’s got improvement this guy. He had a good blow when he pulled up.”
Standout ($21) ran his best race for some time to finish a long neck away second with Embracer ($21) three-quarters of a length away third.
Masked Crusader firmed from $8 into $6 for the Everest following the win.
John O’Shea was happy with the improved showing from fellow Everest slot holder Lost And Running, who finished fourth, while Rothfire disappointed with a tiring seventh.