Jockey Danny Nikolic will recommend to the connections of Mosheen to continue her Autumn campaign after taking out the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill today.
Mosheen could continue on the ATC Oaks after winning the Vinery Stud Stakes - photo (c) Steve Hart
Winning trainer Robert Smerdon said that he would wait and see how Mosheen pulled up after securing her fourth Group 1 win and make a decision next week if he is to run her in either the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 14 or the Group 1 $550,000 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick the following week or send her to the paddock for a break.
“We’re going to take the time we’ve got to think about it. Take her back home tomorrow and think about whether we go to the Oaks or go to the paddock,” Smerdon said.
“They’re never easy to watch, you’re anxious all the time, thinking of the worst case scenario, the outcome was good, that’s the main thing.”
Nikolic rode Mosheen supremely confident and after taking her straight to the front, he let her stride coming to the home turn and set up a winning break.
Coming to the 250m Mosheen had a four length break but started to run around a little bit and Hugh Bowman on Streama made a late charge to get within a half length of her on the line.
“He probably thought that he had an easy run and decided to turn it into a sprint home, but it turned out to be a long way home. He knows she can quicken and has a really good turn of foot and they would have to run really good sectionals to run her down.”
Nikolic knew he was on the best horse in the race and once he got to the front, Mosheen relaxed and he knew she would be hard to beat when she travelled so well and held to score from the fast finishing Streama
“Inside the 600m I started to pick up the tempo like a track gallop, She got a little bit wayward up the straight, she started to spot the big semaphore board and I really wanted to give her an easiest time as possible today,” Nikolic said.
Nikolic knew he had the race won and started to ease her down at the 50m and allowed Streama to duct up the inside and get to within a half a length of her.
Stewards weren’t happy with the way Nikoilc eased the short priced favourite ($1.60) down allowing Streama ($2.90) to make a late dive on the line and fined him $500.
