For almost a year trainer Graeme Rogerson has been telling anybody who would listen that Mascarpone is up to taking on the Group 1 sprinters in Australia.
After his shock victory in the $110,000 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on Saturday the five-year-old might be given the opportunity to prove Rogerson right.
The flashy sprinter made the most of a perfect Ryan Elliot ride to burst clear at the 200m mark before holding out Gino Severini and Prise De Fer in the Group 2 sprint that launches the spring in New Zealand racing.
As big as shock as the ease of the win was from a $30.30 chance, even bigger shocks were the performances of dominant favourites Avantage and Tavi Mac who finished eighth and ninth, stunning punters as it is so rare for either to miss a place.
Avantage had the bigger excuse, being trapped three wide the entire race and she was beaten soon after turning for home, missing a place for the first time in 13 starts over 1200m.