Trainer Robert Smerdon says that Crown Oaks winner Mosheen has the credentials to take on the colts and geldings in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Mosheen who made a mess of her opposition in the Group 1 $600,000 Crown Oaks over 2500m at Flemington in Melbourne Cup week when winning by nine lengths is ready to step up to a tough 1600m with two solid runs under her belt.
The Fastnet Rock filly won first up with an easy win over That’s The One in the Listed $100,000 Shadwell Stud Australasia Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Feb 4 then went down narrowly to subsequent winner Shopaholic in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1410m) at Flemington on February 18.
“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.
“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.”
After the Guineas Smerdon will send Mosheen to Sydney for the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24.
The Peter Snowden trained Helmet who is heading off to Dubai after Saturday, looked a shade disappointing when resuming but the Caulfield Guineas winners has plenty of ability and is certain to bounce back to his best on Saturday.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will be riding Helmet more aggressively this week and won’t let the three year old get locked in on the fence as happened when he was two and a quarter lengths fifth to That’s The One in the Group 3 $150,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1410m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
“There is no doubt I will be more aggressive on Saturday, things didn’t work to plan last time and I think we will be in a better position to keep rolling this time around,” he said.
“Having that run under his belt is a big positive and I am really looking forward to riding his work (tomorrow) to get a good guide on how much he has improved since the first-up effort.”
Trainer Cindy Alderson is more than happy with the progress of That’s The One and said that you only get one chance in a lifetime to run in the Guineas.
Even though That’s The One is going into Saturday’s race in great form, she is still a little concerned that her three year old is a bit on the immature side, but is not going to let the chance of running in the Group 1 Guineas pass her by.
“Races like the Guineas are never easy but he is there with a chance because he keeps improving and the mile suits him, and with the right run in the race you’d expect him to acquit himself really well,” she said.
