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By Ray Hickson

The first steps on the road to the $15 million TAB Everest were smooth for 2022 contenders Mazu and Masked Crusader at Rosehill on Tuesday with the former confirming his rise can continue while the latter gave a glimpse that his autumn form is behind him.

The duo filled the placings behind Group 2 winner O’President, in his first appearance for Bjorn Baker, in a 900m heat and Mazu’s co-trainer Paul Snowden and Masked Crusader’s jockey William Pike said their respective charges made pleasing returns.

Snowden said on Sky Thoroughbred Central that Mazu, $8 second favourite with TAB’s all-in Everest market, will have a second trial in early September before a first-up assignment in the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) on September 17.

“He’s had a little pre-trial sweat and he trialled very much in hand. That’s how we wanted him to trial,’’ Snowden said.

“What we are seeing today is how he’s come back a much mature horse and we're looking forward to his second trial and getting him back to the races.

“He jumped really well, settled great, and it was pleasing to see on our behalf for sure.”

Mazu, who won all five starts in the autumn culminating in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, was secured by Everest slot holders The Star & Arrowfield on a deal that takes in both 2022 and 2023.

O'President, now with @BBakerRacing, leads all the way to win a trial at Rosehill on Tuesday with #TABEverest contenders Mazu and Masked Crusader running into the placings. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/wVkeRSTWjq

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 22, 2022

Fellow Group 1 winning stablemate Sheeza Belter finished sixth in the trial and Snowden said she’s likely to resume in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) on September 3.

Last year’s Everest runner-up Masked Crusader had a below par autumn as he missed a place in all three starts but the signs in his trial were there that he can bounce back after finishing 11 lengths astern of Nature Strip in the TJ Smith Stakes.

He was allowed to brush home into third, just under a length behind Mazu, by jockey William Pike.

“It was a nice trial, he’s back to his usual self. He relaxed early and really thundered home to the line,’’ Pike said on Sky Throughbred Central.

The six-year-old was the first horse confirmed for the TAB Everest by the Max Whitby and Neil Werrett group who locked him in before Christmas.

Group 1 winner Yearning is in for a big spring, according to Pike, on the back of finishing second behind Another Alibi over 1030m in her second trial this preparation.

“I’ve always liked her, she was one of the first horses I trialled when I first came across to Sydney,’’ he said.

“She gave a fantastic feel so hopefully with a few drier tracks around you’ll be able to get to see her up in headlights a bit more.”

Pike also rode the recently gelded Remarque to an easy win in a later 900m trial run 0.73 seconds slower than the heat won by O’President.

It was the four-year-old’s eighth career barrier trial win but his race record so far reads one win from seven starts and that was on debut in January 2021.

All the results and replays from Tuesday's Rosehill trials