Vinery stallion Mossman sired a ground-breaking victory in Kentucky on Friday when Hoofit won the G3 $175,000 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.

Hoofit (4g Mossman – Chuckle by Danehill) is unbeaten since arriving in the United States.  He is trained by Graham Motion and was coming off a stunning three length allowance victory at Presque Isle Downs on September 2.

The Mossman gelding was a Listed winner of the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie in September 2010 and he was sold off-shore after an unplaced effort in the Karaka Mile in January.

Hoofit was a $60,000 buy from the Shelby Park draft at the 2009 NZB Premier yearling sale.  His dam Chuckle was a Listed winner of the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone.  Second-dam Clowning (Rory’s Jester) is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of 2009 G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort.  

With Edgar Prado aboard, Hoofit fought off Aikenite for a head-bobbing victory on the opening day of Keeneland’s fall meeting.  He clocked 1.09.27s for 1200m.  

“I told Edgar to ride him confidently because he was just so impressive at Presque Isle,” Motion explained.  “I said to Edgar this morning, ‘You’ve gotta watch that video because it has to be seen to be believed.’  He did it so easily.”

Hoofit has now qualified for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.  The Phoenix Stakes is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Churchill Downs championship on November 5.

Motion also trains Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck.  The More Than Ready colt will shuttle to Vinery Australia in 2012.