Vinery stallion Mossman claimed his third Gr.1 winner this season in a career-defining victory at stud when Mossfun staged a last-to-first victory in the Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 (1220m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Mossman emerged from the Golden Slipper shadow of Vinery champion sire More Than Ready when his filly railed up to win the $3.50 million event. It virtually clinched the Australian 2YO sires’ premiership for the son of Success Express.
Mossfun (2f Mossman – Eye For Fun by Snitzel) turned the tables on Earthquake after a last-start second to the Darley filly in the G2 Reisling Stakes. The Team Hawkes filly has been unbeaten before that loss in the G2 Silver Slipper, LR Widden Stakes and $250,000 Inglis Nursery.
“John Hawkes told me to be in the first four but not to panic if things didn’t work out,” a relieved jockey James McDonald said. “I couldn’t believe it when she missed the kick but riding for trainers like John gives you confidence.”
Mossfun hugged the fence but was headed by Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) in the straight only to come again to score by three-quarters of a length. Bring Me The Maid (Sebring) finished third to make it a clean-sweep for the fillies.
It was the first Golden Slipper for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes but the third for the family patriarch after Guineas (1997) and Forensics (2007). “I thought it was over after she missed the start,” Michael Hawkes said. “But James rode her cold and rode her for luck. He’s a helluva replacement for D Beadman!
“This is what dreams are made of. She cost Emirates Park $85,000 and has now won the Golden Slipper.”
Mossman sired his first Group 1 winner when Ofcourseican captured the 2012 Coolmore Classic. Champion sprinter Buffering was his next elite winner in the Manikato Stakes earlier this season and Miss Mossman added a third in the New Zealand Oaks last month.
Mossman has three yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale starting on Tuesday, commencing with Lot 308, a chestnut filly from G1 Queensland Oaks winner Allow (Rahy).
