Mossfun is set to make her long awaited return to racing in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday after being included in the nominations for the Group 2 event.
Mossfun will return to racing in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Mossfun scored a memorable win over Earthquake in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens last year, but she has not been seen at the races since after an ill-time virus ruled her out of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Mossman filly made her first public appearance with a second place finish in a barrier trial over 808 metres at Warwick Farm on January 27 before she worked home strongly without being asked for an extra effort in a barrier trial over 903 metres at Rosehill Gardens on February 3.
Another Group 1 winner that has been included in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes nominations is John Thompson-trained First Seal.
First Seal stamped herself as a filly to watch when recorded an upset win in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 20 before she scored a maiden win at Group 1 level in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 4.
The Fastnet Rock filly suffered a surprise loss to Hampton Court in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on October 11, but connections have high hopes for the three-year-old during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she could not have been more impressive when second behind Press Report in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on February 2.
First Seal and Mossfun may not be the only Group 1 winners in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field after Amicus and Peggy Jean were both named in the initial entries for the $175,000 event.
Amicus recorded just one race win in her first six starts, but she was the benefit of an outstanding ride from Hugh Bowman in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 and recorded a maiden win at Group 1 level before she was sent to the spelling paddock.
The three-year-old has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) that will be held at Flemington on March 7 and is a chance to return to Melbourne for the Group 1 event.
Peggy Jean took out the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but she failed to fire during the spring and was sent to the spelling paddock after beating home just a single runner in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) and finishing at the tail of the field in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Trainer Gerald Ryan has been happy with the way that Peggy Jean has performed since she returned from her stint in the paddock and is hopeful that she can return to her best form in the autumn.
Adrift, Anyass, Lucky Raquie, Memorial, Mossfun, Onemorezeta, Press Report, Slightly Sweet, Supara, Thinking Of You and Winx have also been included in the 2015 Light Fingers Stakes field.
