One last mountain to climb before Everest

MASKED Crusader, the second sprinter into The Everest field, is poised to end a career-defining autumn campaign by winning the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick today.

It has been a meteoric rise for the Team Hawkes-trained Masked Crusader (pictured), who started this preparation as a restricted class horse who had never been tested at stakes level.

But an outstanding win in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes and his second to Nature Strip in the T.J. Smith Stakes two weeks ago show far he has come.

“We have always had a good opinion of Masked Crusader, he has just needed time,’’ Hall of Fame trainer Hawkes said.

“The All Aged is just his 12th start so he can only get better.’’

He is the $3 favourite against a crack field that includes another eight Group 1 winners.

Masked Crusader’s rapid rise was confirmed on Friday with the announcement he had been selected to join Nature Strip as definite starters in the $15m The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 16.

Part-owner Rupert Legh said an agreement had been reached for the Everest slot held by Max

Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden.

So, can Masked Crusader end his autumn campaign by pocketing a second Group 1 win?

“We know Masked Crusader has a habit of missing the start so we are probably better off drawing 12 than one or two,’’ Legh said. “If you draw inside you can get caught on the fence.

“This horse’s finishing speed is elite level.’’