MOSSMAN 3YO Stirling Grove took his earnings past $200,000 following an easy win in yesterday’s VRC Schweppes Tonic (1000m) on Cup day at Flemington.
The Richard Jolly-trained visitor sat further away from the pace than has been his usual pattern, saving himself for a final assault which saw him put 2.3-lens on the runner up.
Stirling Grove’s time of 57.59 seconds was particularly good in light of the slow track.
“Stirling Grove has always been an above average horse right from his debut when he won the Fulham Park Plate by nine lengths,” Vinery’s Adam White says.
“He has now won four out of eight lifetime starts and is another good example of yet another Mossman runner with a phenominal strike rate.
“Buffering from the same crop comes to mind – it shows that Mossman’s are very competitive in any race they contest.”
Stirling Grove’s win came hot on the heels of a debut blacktype placing from the David Hayes trained Dinner Date in the Listed VRC Soar Power Stakes (1000m) to kick start Melbourne Cup day.
Mossman has fired out of the blocks this season with consecutive Saturday metropolitan winning 2YO’s last month namely Double Impact and Racing Stripes as well as Hayes galloper Moscow who was placed on debut at Morphettville.
“Mossman sired a dozen 2YO’s winner last season, five of which were either stakeswinners or stakes-placed,” Vinery’s Conor Phelan said, “He looks to have another crop of quality 2yo’s coming through already.”
