Golden Slipper winner Mossfun retired

Champion two year old Mossfun will be sent to stud following the announcement of her retirement today.

2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun has been retired to stud. Photo by Steve Hart.

2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun has been retired to stud. Photo by Steve Hart.

Mossfun showed that she was high quality when stormed home to win the 2014 Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.

Ridden by glamour jockey James McDonald, Mossfun was able to handle the heavy conditions to sneak up along the fence to beat favourite, Earthquake, by three quarters of a length.

But the Mossman filly has failed to relive her glory days and has only been placed once from four starts since when second to Shamalia in the Group 3 $150,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.

Then at her most recent start the Team Hawkes trained filly showed early pace before fading in the straight to finish fourth to Delectation in the Group 2 $500,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11 and co-trainer Michael Hawkes told racing.com the stable though it was the right time for her finish her career.

“But she just didn’t come back at the level we had hoped. It happens with two-year-olds and the virus she contracted during the spring of last year perhaps took more out of her than any of us realised,” Hawkes said.

“She won a Golden Slipper, what more can you say?”

“It doesn’t get much bigger than the biggest two-year-old race in the world and I suppose being an $85,000 purchase it made it that little bit more special.

“She didn’t have any blueblood behind her but she is the blueblood now and hopefully they can breed a Slipper winner out of her.

“Her record is pretty good. It’s been a good ride and a good thrill and she’s done everything right but we just felt it was the right time.”

Although Mossfun was able to beat Earthquake in the Golden Slipper, Earthquake, the winner of the Group 1 $1m Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, was able to get the votes to be crowned two year old of the year ahead of the Hawkes trained filly.

Mossfun was able to earn $2,561,250 in prizemoney and bonuses from four wins and two seconds from nine starts.

All in her wins were in her two year season and besides her Golden Slipper victory, also won the 2013 $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) on the Kensington track at Randwick, the 2014 Group 3 $150,000 Widden Stakes (1100m) and 2014 Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) both Rosehill.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.