Mossman mare White Moss can add another notch to Vinery’s winning record in the Coolmore Classic Gr.1 following her return to form at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Jason Coyle-trained grey started at $51 in the Millie Fox Stakes Gr.2 following a run of outs stretching back to The Nivison Gr.3 at Randwick in October 2017.
“She wasn’t going so badly,” Coyle claimed. “She found the line nicely after blowing the start last time and the barrier blanket helped today. She jumped well and enjoyed being able to stride freely in front.”
White Moss defied running down to narrowly defeat I Am Serious (Choisir) and Savatiano (Street Cry) at the end of 1300m. Mossman mare Moss Trip, who also holds Group 1 entries this campaign, ran home with an encouraging first-up fourth for Triple Crown Syndications.
A winner of 6 races in 15 starts, White Moss has earned $360,000 for owner-breeders Michele Esplin and her children Hamish, Patrick and Elise. The mare’s Group 2 winning dam Pay My Bail (NZ) was a $240,000 buy for the late Phillip Esplin at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
The Coolmore Classic is the Group 1 grand-final for fillies and mares in the autumn. “I’m confident she can stretch out to 1500m,” Coyle said ahead of the March 16 showdown at Rosehill. “I will be doing everything to help and she won’t be too fresh that’s for sure.”
Vinery retired Mossman last year after a stud career headed by champion sprinter Buffering (Gr.1 x 6), Miss Mossman (NZ Oaks), Mossfun (Golden Slipper) and Coolmore Classic winners Plucky Belle (2015) and Ofcourseican (2012).
Plucky Belle was also raced by the Esplin Family and her most recent mating was to Vinery legend More Than Ready.
Back in 2003, Bollinger (Dehere) carried Vinery’s colours to a front-running victory in the Coolmore Classic. The best of her Australian foals has been Villermont (All Too Hard) who sported those same green and white silks to feature victories in the Sandown Guineas Gr.2 and Gunsynd Classic Gr.3 last season.