MOSSMAN and Testa Rossa have capped a stellar year by claiming first and second position on the Leading 2YO Sire’s final standings.
The Vinery duo are joined in the Top Ten by another associate sire, Myboycharlie, who success was driven in no small part by Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Peggy Jean.
Mossman, sired three individual Group One winners for the season highlighted by a stellar 2yo crop. He sired 7 individual 2YO winners from only 22 starters during the season led of course by his Golden Slipper winning daughter, Mossfun.
The Team Hawkes filly won 4 of her 5 starts and is a leading contender to be crowned Champion 2YO at next Thursday’s NSW Racehorse Owners Association awards gala in Sydney.
Peggy Jean is also nominated together with Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up, Earthquake.
Mossfun’s efforts went a long way to overshadowing the deeds of Tasmanian 2yo Admiral who dominated the juvenile scene on the island in 2013/14 winning 6 of his 7 starts including the Listed TTC Gold Sovereign Stakes/ TRC Elwick Stakes double as well as the TTC Autumn 2YO Classic and Sires’ Produce Stakes (by 3.5-lens) and almost $200,000.
Mossman was the only stallion whose 2YO progeny reached the $3m barrier.
Closest to him was Testa Rossa whose son Unecumbered took out the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast back in January.
In doing so, Bjorn Baker’s colt emulated Testa Rossa’s epic 4.5-lens win in the 1999 Magic Millions having also won the Group 1 VRC Sire’s Produce Stakes, Group 2 VRC Maribyrnong Plate and Group 3 VRC Debutante Stakes.
Testa Rossa trained on to win five more Group 1 races.
Overall, Testa Rossa continues to bolster his reputation as one of the nost reliable stallions on the national roster string over 100 individual winners for the fifth season running averaging 120 for the period. Buyers continue to be drawn to Testa Rossa’s progeny in the sale-ring, his 2014 yearlings sold for up to $320,000.
