Well-bred youngster Mogador broke through for his maiden win in the $50,000 Two Year Old Plate (1100m) at Rosehill on Monday.
Sam Clipperton, above, steered Mogador to his maiden win at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Godolphin owned colt had showed plenty of potential in the Autumn after winning a Rosehill barrier trial in early February but trainer John O’Shea was unable to get a win out of him from his two race starts later that month.
But Monday’s win was a promising showing for the Lonhro colt who was able to produce a good turn of foot to record a one and three quarter lengths win, something the stable knew he always had.
Stable representative Darren Beadman was at Rosehill to witness Mogador’s maiden win and expects the youngster to continue to improve.
“We really like him, he is a real (sire) Lonhro,’’ Beadman told The Daily Telegraph.
“From day one John has been trying to get the horse to switch off and relax and hit the line as we know he has a good turn of foot.’’
Even though Mogador was soundly beaten as an odds on favourite by his stablemate Exosphere in a 1000m 2yo Maiden Plate at Kembla Grange on February 14, O’Shea still had enough confidence in him to tackle tougher company during the Autumn Carnival.
Mogador was up against Exosphere again in the Group 2 $175,000 Pro-Ride Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28 and found the stablemate too strong once more, finishing six lengths behind him in fourth position.
O’Shea then sent the Lonhro colt to the paddock for a rest and he has returned in fine style with a win for jockey Sam Clipperton.
Exosphere was then sent into the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 as one of the top fancies but was always well back in the field and faded to finished last of the sixteen runners.
Mogador was the first leg of a winning double for Godolphin and O’Shea at Rosehill on Monday with Careless taking out the last race of the day, the $50,000 Grand Pavilion BenchMark 70 Handicap (1400m).
That was Careless’ second win on the trot after the Exceed And Excel three year old scored his maiden win at his the previous start over 1300m at Scone on May 15.
