Speedy filly Mossfun was the dominant two year-old last season winning won four of her five starts for Team Hawkes highlighted by a brilliant Golden Slipper victory, but below par form this season has seen her retired to stud for owners Emirates Park.
Given a spell immediately after winning the Golden Slipper, Mossfun contracted a virus and was forced to bypass the spring, but managed to return in the autumn of 2015.
She had four starts as a three-year-old, all at Group level, with her best result a second placing in the Group III ATC Birthday Card Quality last month.
“She did her job,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes told Racenet, “Targeting a Golden Slipper, getting her there on the day and winning it – it doesn’t get any better than that.
“But she just didn’t come back at the level we had hoped. It happens with two-year-olds and the virus she contracted during the spring of last year perhaps took more out of her than any of us realised.
“For an $85,000 yearling she will now to go to stud as a valuable broodmare, a Group I winner, and a Golden Slipper winner.
“It goes to show it can happen, and we will be trying to find another Mossfun this year.”
A daughter of Vinery Stud stalwart Mossman, sire of this years Coolmore Stakes winner Plucky Belle, Mossfun will join the stellar broodmare band at Emirates Park and retires with prizemoney of more than $2.5 million.
