GOLDEN Slipper sire Mossman notched his 31st global stakeswinner when Australian-bred galloper Born To Fly won the Group 2 E W Barker Trophy at Kranji racecourse in Singapore.
Few horses deserved a major more than Born To Fly according to his trainer Stephen Gray who celebrated his 50th birthday on Sunday.
I’m just so, so, so happy and it’s not just because it’s my birthday. He is such a great honest little horse. He’s run in many Group races and always tries his best, he never lets you down and I’m so happy for the horse he’s finally won a Group race,” Gray said.
“I was just recovering from last night, but now, we’ll definitely have another party tonight!”
Born To Fly was orginally purchased by Centaur Park Thoroughbreds from Vinery Stud’s draft at the 2009 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. Centaur then pinhooked the son of Mossman through the Gold Coast Breeze Up Sale where he was purchased by Stephen Gray.
The Classic pinhook has been a great horse for Stephen and Bridget Gray winning over S$770,000 thanks to eight wins and 18 placings in 54 starts.
Sunday’s winning time of 1 minute 21.4 seconds was only just 0.82 seconds shy of Super Ninetyseven’s 1400m Short Course track record.
Born To Fly is one of 345 individual winners sired by Mossman who boasts 31 stakeswinners and 22 stakes-placed performers.
Mossman’s roll call of feature race winners includes reigning Golden Slipper winner Mossfun as well as four-times Group 1 winning sprinter Buffering, Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican and 2014 New Zealand Oaks winner Miss Mossman.
