Mossfun has been backed into 2015 Light Fingers Stakes odds of $4 and punters are confident that the Golden Slipper winner can be more than competitive in her return to racing at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Mossfun is one of several Group 1 winners that are set to contest the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mossfun opened at a quote of $4.40 when Light Finger Stakes betting markets were released on Wednesday, but there has been consistent support for the daughter of Mossman and she is on the second line of betting behind the talented First Seal ($3).
Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes admits that Mossfun will face extremely stiff competition against Group 1 winners First Seal, Peggy Jean and Amicus in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field, but he is happy with the condition of the three-year-old he told Racing Ahead and is confident that she will be more than competitive in her first race start in over 10 months.
“It is a tough race,” Hawkes said.
“Normally with the Golden Slipper winner you would be 5/4 favourite and just winning, but it is not that simple.
“She is going super and everything is really well with her and there are no excuses for Saturday.
“She is a high class filly and she has showed us plenty.
“She will be right in the race, but it is a really tough race and there will be a few bubbles that burst come Saturday afternoon.”
Mossfun was ridden close to the speed when she started her racing career with wins in the Inglis Nursery (1000m), Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m), but she famously missed the start in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) and jockey James McDonald was forced to settle her at the tail of the field.
The talented filly clearly showed that she was capable of working home strongly when settled off the pace, but Hawkes is hoping that the misstep at the start of the Golden Slipper Stakes will prove to be a one off and he would like to see jockey Tommy Berry settle Mossfun closer to the speed in the Light Fingers Stakes.
“She was a bit slow out of the gates and that is what stuffed her up in the Slipper and I would like to think that she won’t get into the habit of doing that sort of stuff because you don’t normally win any race, let alone a Slipper, when you miss the kick,” Hawkes said.
First Seal remains on top of the 2015 Light Finger Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes, but the best-backed runners has been the promising Onemorezeta ($11 into $8.50).
