3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Masked Crusader claims the Group 3 Heath 1100 Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Masked Crusader (Jye McNeil/Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes) - $1.90F
2nd: Amish Boy (Dean Yendall/Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace) - $8
3rd: Oxley Road (Luke Nolen/Peter Moody) - $8
Winning Time: 1:03.75 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 3/4L x 1L
WOW!
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 28, 2021
Masked Crusader from last! What a performance! @HawkesRacing @JyeMcNeil pic.twitter.com/SJy1XLfsfb
Winning Trainer: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes (Wayne speaking)
"I wasn't that rapt on the corner. He certainly had to do it the hard way and the horse in front of him certainly wasn't taking him anywhere. Coming to the corner I thought 'gee whiz'.
"If you've never walked the track at Caulfield, it is a 90-degree right angle and they railed like greyhounds there and they were gone. Truthfully, what went around my mind there was Chautauqua and that's what he had to do, he had to do a Chautauqua-like performance."
Plan over next 6-8 weeks: "We don't know. We just brought him to Melbourne, Sydney is under COVID (restrictions. It is very, very tough and hard to do what you want to do in Sydney at the moment. That was one of the reasons he came here.
"His first start in a race he won and broke a track record here at Caulfield. We knew he'd get around Caulfield. We just wanted to see how he'd run today. I know when he came to Melbourne, we never get up and about about our horses by Michael said to me that he's flying. He was certainly right, there's no doubt about that."
The Everest and going back to Sydney: "All roads lead to The Everest. Chautauqua, I think it was his second TJ Smith and he was in Melbourne until eight day before the race. With us it doesn't matter because we've got stables in both states. He can do his last bit of work on a Tuesday and go up on Tuesday night. He can go as late as the Thursday night.
"We've got all options open. Kembla Grange was a heavy track today, we've got a great track here today. All of those things come into play albeit that he doesn't mind a wet track. You've got to look at all those things and we just wanted to get past today and see what he could do."
Winning Jockey: Jye McNeil
"He was a little bit awkward away, that's what put us so far back. He always travelled really comfortably. I could see a wall of horses and not much movement so I just made the decision to track Damian (Lane) for as long as I could and bring him to the outside.
"We were setting them a long way at the top of the straight and the nice turn-of-foot he has enabled him to finish over the top. He's a proper horse.
"Just go through the motions. He did all the work and I was lucky enough to jump him out last week and he gave me a fantastic feeling. He produced a special performance here today and I'm thankful for the opportunity."
