Mossman maintained his remarkable black-type strike-rate when Traitor captured the G2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) to become Mossman’s 10th individual stakeswinner since August 1 and his 29th overall.
Traitor (3g Mossman – Informant by Flying Spur) made it 8 stakes winners for the Vinery sire this season. His overall stakes winner count now numbers 29 and the recent rush of black-type has seen him move up to fifth place in that category behind Fastnet Rock, Exceed and Excel, Snitzel and Commands this season.
Traitor completed a treble for Team Hawkes on the Ranvet Stakes card at Rosehill. “He’s come off a midweek win at Randwick and looked out of his depth here,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “I thought he would need to be a superstar to win today.”
The lightly-raced gelding had won his maiden at Warwick Farm as recently as January 29. “We haven’t seen the best of him,” Hawkes added. “He’s untapped.”
Traitor was purchased for $75,000 at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions and comes from the family of Group 1 winners Slight Chance, Brambles and sire Dane Shadow.
“He has a high cruising rhythm,” winning jockey Brenton Avdulla said. “He got to the front a bit early but, when they challenged before the furlong, he was off and gone again.”
Earlier in the day at Rosehill, Mossman filly Mossfun lost her unbeaten record but wasn’t disgraced when finishing a length second in the G2 Reisling Stakes. Her connections are praying for rain leading up to the G1 Golden Slipper – a wet track will help her chances of turning the tables on Reisling winner Earthquake.
Those two fillies dominate markets for the $3.50 million Golden Slipper on April 5. Earthquake is the $2.10 pre-post favourite ahead of Mossfun ($6.50) while Testa Rossa colt Unencumbered on the third line at $13.
