2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun has now been back in work for just over a week and co-trainer Michael Hawkes has revealed that the talented filly has returned from her stint in the spelling paddock as a stronger horse both mentally and physically.
Mossfun is progressing well ahead of the start of her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mossfun, along with Earthquake, was the star two-year-old performer of the 2013/2014 racing season and she took out the Inglis Nursery (1000m), Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) before her memorable win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Hawkes told Racing Ahead that Mossman had returned from the spelling paddock in excellent condition and he is confident that she will be an even stronger horse when she begins her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
“She spelled really well actually,” Hawkes said.
“She has only been back in work for about a week in a half in the Sydney stables, but she has had a good four weeks pre-training and she spelled well up there at Emirates Park.
“She actually has matured a lot and has grown up mentally.
“Hopefully going forward it is going to be a lovely spring.”
Mossfun was ridden right on the speed when she scored the first three victories of her racing career and when second behind Earthquake in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22, but showed that she had the ability to make up ground from the tail of the field when she missed the start in the Golden Slipper.
Hawkes said that he generally likes to see his horses ridden on the pace, but is happy that Mossfun has the versatility to ridden in a number of different ways – an ability that could come in handy in races like the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
“Obviously, you love on-pace horses and a lot of the horses this day and age win a lot of races being on speed, but it helps to when you have confidence in riders that don’t panic,” Hawkes said.
“Once horses miss the start the worst thing to do is panic and that is what James didn’t do and he got her into a nice rhythm.
“She really kicked home and she does have two dimensions.
“With her now it is just a matter of getting back into it and into the swing of things.”
Team Hawkes are yet to decide on a first-up target for Mossfun and will wait until John Hawkes returns from holidays before they plot a spring campaign for the rising three-year-old.
