Melbourne, Vic (March 20th, 2010) - Masquerader burst into contention for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes with a barnstorming win in the Group Two $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Not an original entry for the race, Masquerader will enter the race for the Slipper with trainer David Payne saying the colt’s owners will pay the $150,000 fee. 

Payne purchased the outstanding youngster for just $90,000 from the draft of Shipton Lodge at last October’s Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale.  With two wins from as many starts he’s already earned his connections over $212,000.

The win made it a two-year-old big race double for top Melbourne based jockey Michael Rodd.  Payne said the bright prospect would head to the Slipper following his fast finishing win.

“He’s going to improve a bit more from that,” Payne stated. “He’s a very good horse.”
“At his first run he did everything wrong and he still won. And in my experience over the years only good horses do what he did.”
“He’s still learning, but we’ll have him ready by the Slipper. He’ll be getting home again”
“He’ll be a bit closer in the Slipper if he can get a draw and he’ll improve.”

Payne said provided Masquerador pulled up well, the exciting son of Lucky Owners would run in the Golden Slipper.

“The bloke’s very wealthy he won’t worry about that,” Payne said with a laugh.

“I’ll make him pay.”

Since arriving in Sydney from South Africa, Payne has had “five or six” runners in the Golden Slipper.
“But this will be the best one yet.”
Payne, like most, was impressed with the performance in the Reisling Stakes of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose.
“She’s good.”
And can he beat her?
“What will be, will be.”

A full brother to the twice Hong Kong winner Lucky Amore, Masquerader is the first Australian based stakes winner by Danehill’s former star galloping son Lucky Owners.  Already the sire of star New Zealand two-year-old The Heckler, Lucky Owners is also the sire of the stakes placegetters Lucky Thunder, Lucky Superstar and Luck Kentucky.

Masquerader is the second winner from two runners for his dam, the twice winning Geiger Counter mare Ion You.  A winner at 1000 and 1400 metres, Ion You is from the three time stakes placed and seven time winning Covetous mare Admiring Glances.

A large draft of lots in the upcoming Magic Millions National Sale will have been boosted by the result with more than 30 lots in the sale.

Permalink| Mar 20, 2010

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