Star Thoroughbreds and Widden Combine

Sydney – The Gai Waterhouse trained Masahiko stripped rock hard fit at his third run back from a break and packed too many guns in the run to the line to win the Benchmark 76 event over 1500 metres at Rosehill on Saturday by half a neck.

A $75,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft, three year-old Haradasun gelding Masahiko has already recouped costs for his lucky owners with two wins and four placings from nine starts earning $106,090.

“Denise (Martin) does a great job with Star Thoroughbreds in bringing people into racing,” said stable representative Mark Newnham.

“Some of the owners in this horse have been in Whittington and Theseo, so they’ve been very successful customers.”

Masahiko is one of three winners from Saffie Darling, a half-sister by Catrail (USA) to HK champion sprinter Sacred Kingdom, a two time winner of the Group I HK International Sprint.

Saffie Darling has a weanling colt by Northern Meteor and was covered again last spring by the red hot young sire.