Jockey Danny Nikolic will have to produce the ride of his life on Mosheen after the filly drew the outside barrier in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Robert Smerdon trained Mosheen is the only filly in the Guineas and will have to jump from the outside of the sixteen horse field.
With the prospect of a hot pace with Kerrin McEvoy already stating that he will ride Helmet more aggressively, Nikolic might have the opportunity to slot Mosheen in midfield with some cover.
Even with the nightmare barrier draw Mosheen has firmed to $6 behind Helmet who remains the $3.30 favourite.
Craig Williams’ mount That’s The One is still at $8, also had no favours at the barrier draw and came up with the fourteen marble, but will jump from 12 if the emergencies don’t get a start.
With Flemington rated a slow 6 and with more showers forecasted, noted wet tracker That’s The One is certain to firm in the betting before start time.
Smerden is comfortable taking on the colts and geldings in the Guineas and says the form around his filly is solid.
“She comfortably beat That’s The One by almost two lengths over 1200m first-up in the Manfred Stakes at Caulfield, and he came out and comfortably won the Hayes Stakes over 1410m at Flemington,” Smerdon said.
“Then she was beaten only a short half-head when giving Shopaholic 3.5kg in the Vanity Stakes over 1410m at Flemington and Shopaholic came out and franked that form by winning the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield on Saturday.
“It’s hard to fault her form and the form around her.
Smerdon is wary that the Peter Snowden trained Helmet will be the one to beat if he races up to his best and can repeat his Caulfield Guineas win from the Spring.
“I guess there is Helmet, but we know we have a quality filly who will have no trouble with the distance and who is racing in great heart.”
Helmet will be primed to run at best his for Snowden as this will be his last appearance in Australia before heading off to Dubai with stablemate Sepoy where they will have one run for him then will be handed over to the Godolphin stable.
Helmet is to run in the $US1 million UAE Derby (1800m) at Meydan in Dubai World Cup Carnival, March 31 while Sepoy will line up in the $US2 million Golden Shaheen (1200m).
“It would also be good for me if he happens to run well on Saturday going over to where he’s got to go and facing the task he’s facing,” Snowden said.
“It gives you good confidence to know your horse is going well.
“It’s like Sepoy. He got beaten the other day but for me it was a fantastic run.
“He ran brilliant time and when you’re going to take on the best sprinters in the world, for me that’s the run that says he’s going to be right up there with them.
Snowden is certain his top class three year olds will be competitive on the world stage in Duabi and a top performance from Helmet in the Guineas will confirm his opinion of the multiple Group 1 winner.
