Mossman’s international stakes winner Hoofit has died in the USA. The gelding succumbed to a leg infection on Monday.
Hoofit (6g Mossman – Chuckle by Danehill) was a Listed winner of the 2010 Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie before being purchased privately by Chattanooga based owner Gillian Johnston.
Hoofit (NZ) won or placed in 15 of 32 starts with a G3 victory in the 2011 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland the best of his results for trainer Graham Motion. He was also stakes placed at Saratoga, Belmont Park, Colonial Downs, and Presque Isle Downs.
A resilient son of Vinery sire Mossman, he overcame the odds to make the grade in sprint ranks. He arrived in the USA after a gruelling flight schedule that included layovers in China and Alaska.
Johnston had plans to send him to California to race in 2011 but his original flight got delayed due to an earthquake. “He was floated from New York to my farm in Tennessee and survived a tornado that destroyed half of our property,” Johnston recalled. “Then, when we sent him to Graham’s stable, he experienced the storms of Hurricane Irene that ripped through Maryland.”
Taking all those setbacks in his stride, Hoofit began thriving and won first-up by three lengths at Presque Isle Downs. “I just couldn’t believe how he won that race – it was extraordinary,” Motion said. “He did it so easily. Not many horses win like he did that night.”
“He thrived despite an earthquake, tornado, hurricane and shipping across the world,” Motion said. “But the leg infection was too much.”
Hoofit was a $60,000 buy from the Shelby Park draft at the 2009 NZB Premier yearling sale at Karaka. His dam Chuckle was a Listed winner of the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. Second-dam Clowning (Rory’s Jester) is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of 2009 G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort.
Mossman (Success Express) stands for $19,800 (inc gst) at Vinery.
