Nick Hall is the new rider for Cox Plate hopeful Mosheen replacing embattled jockey Danny Nikolic whose hearing against improper conduct charges has been rescheduled until next Wednesday.
Mark Zahra was the stand in rider when Mosheen finished down the track in the Group 3 $150,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 8 at her first start back after a successful Autumn campaign which saw her win three Group 1s.
Trainer Robert Smerdon confirmed that connections had gone with Hall to partner the Fastnet Rock mare throughout the Spring with her next start likely to be the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2 Stakes (1200m), also known as the How Now Stakes, at Caulfield on September 22.
“The connections have considered all of their options and settled on Nick, who has committed to her for the rest the spring,” Smerdon said.
“She’s come along well since the Bobby Lewis and under all the circumstances we were satisfied with the run.”
“She went into it quite underdone and the weight scale of the race wasn’t ideal for her either.”
The Caulfield trainer also has the option of a barrier trial prior to running in the Group 1 $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 30.
Smerdon will then head towards the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 two weeks before the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
“With it being 21 days between runs leading in the Rupert Clarke she’ll need a hard hit out, so whether we do that in a race or a trial is to be decided,” Smerdon said.
“She will definitely accept for the How Now next week and we’ll make a decision then.”
Nikolic is due to front the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary panel at a rescheduled inquiry next Wednesday relating to an incident at the Seymour race meeting on September 4 when Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey stood Nikolic down from riding indefinitely after comments directed to Bailey.
Nikolic has already failed to gain a stay of proceedings so he could continue riding until the inquiry and is looking at a lengthy time on the sidelines if found guilty.
