Jason Coyle has learned from experience to keep his feet on the ground but he will reach for the sky with Mossman mare White Moss next year.
The former Patinack Farm trainer has been patient with White Moss and it began paying off with a Group 3 victory in The Nivison (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. She has won 5 of her last 6 starts since a Wyong maiden in April.
“We cuddled her early on because she’s not an overly big mare and now we’re really being rewarded,” Coyle said. “She’s always been strong through the line and I’m hoping she will get a mile. There’s races like the (G1) Coolmore Classic in the autumn and her long-term goal is the (G1) Tatt’s Tiara in Queensland.”
Mossman is covering a limited book at Vinery this year. White Moss is his 36th stakes winner and among them are Ofcourseican (2012 Coolmore Classic) & Plucky Belle (2015 Coolmore Classic).
“It was a step-up in grade today but she’s got a fair bit of ability,” jockey Jason Collett said. “She’s a very easy ride. She jumps and puts herself right in the race. Then she gives you something when you ask. You can’t ask for any more.”
White Moss is a homebred for the Esplin family from NZ Group 2 winner Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails). The mare’s earlier foals include White Sage (Festival Stakes -LR).
Mossman’s Brisbane stakes winner Hopfgarten returned from a spell to win at Doomben last weekend and trainer Rob Heathcote is setting him for the Villiers Stakes-Gr.2 at Randwick in December.
Heathcote prepared Mossman’s $7.30 million earner Buffering. “He’s probably my stable favourite now that Buffering has retired,” Heathcote admitted. “He was unlucky in the Villiers last year and we also have the option of bringing him back home for the Bernborough Handicap.”