Miss Mossman failed to flatter on a previous trip across the Tasman but the Mossman mare is heading to Australia for a shot at redemption.
Her venture is a homecoming of sorts as she is rejoining the John Sargent stable where it all began for the Group I winner.
Her career was launched from Sargent’s Matamata base before the trainer moved to Sydney. She won the NZ Oaks (Gr.1) at Trentham from his Matamata branch before joining his Australian operation for an autumn campaign aimed at the AJC Oaks.
A testing campaign took a toll and she failed to produce her best in two starts and returned home to spell before joining the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott stable, also at Matamata.
A short, fruitless campaign led to another spell and she returned to racing recently for her new trainers more like the horse that dominated the Oaks field.
A strong win over 2100 metres at Te Rapa in early May was followed by a gallant second in the Rotorua Cup.
The Taumarunui Cup was then identified as a target but a temperature spike on race morning saw her scratched.
“There wasn’t much around for her in New Zealand after that disappointment so we talked to Lance and Scotty and decided she would have more options in Aussie,” said Bruce Clothier, who races the mare with his family under the RBC Racing banner.
“Sarge obviously knows her well so we made the decision to send her to him.”
Randwick-based Sargent intends stabling Miss Mossman with Victorian trainer Pat Carey and will line her up in an 1800-metre open handicap with a stake of A$80,000 at Caulfield on Saturday.
“That’s the plan if she travels alright on her flight on Wednesday morning and settles in well,” Clothier said.
Miss Mossman worked well at Matamata on Tuesday and appeared in prime condition ahead of departure. Victoria will suit the winner of four races and $253,315 with her best performances recorded on left handed tracks.
“There’s a good choice of those races at this time of year around Victoria,” Sargent said. “She gets in well with 54.5 kilos on Saturday and Craig Newitt rides.”
