CANT MAR 10 - MASQUERADER SCORES ON DEBUT

By Scott Gooley | Thursday, March 11, 2010

Canterbury, March 10, 2010.
Track - Good. Rail - out 6m.
0MW 2yo Handicap - 1100m. Time: 1-04.99 (Carrying 55.5kg).
1 Masquerader; 2 Milanesa; 3 Circle Of Power.

Randwick trainer David Payne has continued to enhance his reputation as an exceptional trainer of two year olds by preparing Masquerader to win Theslipper.com.au Handicap (1100m) at his first race start.

The colt is a son of Lucky Owners out of Geiger Counter mare Ion You, making him a full brother to handy Hong Kong galloper Lucky Amore who has won two of his five starts to date.

Ridden by Glyn Schofield and jumping from barrier two in the field of nine runners, Masquerader was slowly away but Schofield made full advantage of the inside draw to push the colt along the rails and passing the 600m mark, was in the box seat, third behind leaders April In Venice and Empress Lily.

Approaching the home turn Schofield was able to push Masquerader underneath Empress Lily who was quickly under pressure.

Straightening for the run home April in Venice, hard up against the running rail, kicked away to a two and a half length lead as Masquerader showing his lack of race experience, wobbled around the tight Canterbury turn.

With 200m to run Masquerader racing toward the centre of the track had joined April in Venice. However, splitting the pair was the Paul Messara trained Milanesa who, after trailing Masquerader throughout, was finishing hard.

Inside the last 100m, Masquerader and Milanesa had raced away from April in Venice with the latter holding a head advantage.

In driving finish to the line, Masquerader ($4.80) showed impressive qualities to dive again at Milanesa ($10.00) and record a short head victory.

Third place was secured by Circle Of Power ($4.80) a finished further two lengths away.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Payne: “He’s nice horse. We threw him into the deep end today ... this course, only one trial, green as grass. He’ll improve.

“What I’ll do is, I’ll give him one lead up race. He’s not nominated (for the Golden Slipper) and if he is good enough well, we will pay the (late entry) fee. If he’s not then we won’t.

“He’ll come on leaps and bounds after this run don’t worry.

Jockey Glyn Schofield. “Once he peeled out coming around the corner, and sort of pushed his way out, he just wanted to carry on running out.

“He raced greenly but when the second horse challenged him, she (Milanesa) probably went pass me halfway down the stretch and then he (Masquerader) found a bit more to fight back and win.

“Milanesa quickened up to come past me very quickly, but my fellow just put his head down and fortunately had enough to get past her on the line.

“The first morning I worked Masquerader at David’s, I said I think this is one of your best.

“We put him through the gates and he was pretty slow and his trial was a bit slow, so he’s going to learn a hell of a lot from today’s run, because it was quite a rushed prep to get him in here.

“Full credit to David and the horse to get the number up.”

PRICES:
Masquerader (4.80); Milanesa (10.00); Circle Of Power (4.80).
The favourite Empress Milly (3.70) finished seventh.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Masquerader was slow to begin. Milanesa was hampered on jumping between Tropicana Girl, which shifted out, and Circle Of Power, which was taken in by Jigsaws. In the incident Circle Of Power was buffeted for a short distance between Milanesa and Jigsaws.

For some distance approaching the 800m Masquerader and Tropicana Girl made contact as Masquerader endeavoured to hold its position to the outside of Empress Milly.

On the first turn near the 700m Empress Milly had to be steadied off the heels of April In Venice (K O'Hara), which shifted in when not quite clear. K O'Hara was advised to be two lengths clear when shifting ground. In the incident Empress Milly shifted out, resulting in Tropicana Girl being taken out onto Jigsaws, which was taken wider on the track.

Rounding the home turn, as Masquerader attempted to improve to the outside of the heels of April In Venice, Masquerader made contact with Empress Milly, resulting in that filly becoming unbalanced.

A post race veterinary examination of Empress Milly did not reveal any abnormalities. K O'Hara, rider of April Of Venice, accidentally dropped her whip approaching the finish line.