“I let him cut the corner and he sprinted very well, but I think there’s still  improvement in him as he had a good blow when he pulled up, so I think Hawkes’s are just making sure he’s ready on the big day,” said Tommy Berry.

Bred and sold by Gilgai Farm, Masked Crusader was bought by Hawkes Racing / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $340,000 at Inglis Premier and was the most expensive yearling from the first crop of his sire.

Masked Crusader is the best of three winners from ill-fated stakes-winning Invincible Spirit (IRE) mare She’s Got Gears, who died tragically at Gilgai Farm earlier this spring.

There are very few mares as consistent as Tasmanian darling Still a Star and the five year-old daughter of Toronado posted her biggest win to date when taking out the Group II VRC Rose of Kingston Stakes.

She came home with a well timed run under Luke Currie to win by a short half head over Pride of Dubau mare Pride of Jenni taking her overall record to an impressive 10 wins and seven placings from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $873,000.