2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun has returned to work to begin preparations for her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
Mossfun scored her maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Golden Slipper. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mossfun was sent straight to the spelling paddock following her fast-finishing win over Earthquake in the Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and co-trainer John Hawkes revealed that the daughter of Mossman had taken plenty of benefit from her time away from the stable.
“She had a nice break and spelled really well and she’s matured a bit more,” Hawkes said told AAP.
“She’s got a bit stronger.
“She was only a baby last time.”
Hawkes confirmed that Mossfun would be kept to sprinting distances during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he said that he did not have any particular races in mind for Mossfun.
The veteran trainer said that him and his sons Michael and Wayne will take it one step at a time with Mossfun, but revealed that the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day is one possible target for the Golden Slipper winner.
“She’ll start in Sydney and most probably work her way down to Melbourne but that could change,” Hawkes said.
“She’ll stay in the shorter races.
“Right at the end of the Carnival there’s the Coolmore over 1200m.”
Mossfun made her racing debut with a narrow win in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick on December 14 and started her 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a win over Ygritte and Twirl in the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 15.
The juvenile produced an outstanding performance to record a dominant four lengths victory on a wet track in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1 and was far from disgraced when second behind Earthquake in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 22.
Mossfun was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), but she was very slow out of the gates and jockey James McDonald was forced to settle the usual on-pace runner at the tail of the field.
McDonald opted to cut the corner of Mossfun coming around the final turn and she made up good ground late to score a narrow victory over Earthquake and Bring Me The Maid.
Mossfun has scored four wins from her five starts and has accumulated almost $2.5 million for connections after being purchased for just $85,000 at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
