Australian Guineas Triumph for Mosheen

After winning the Group I VRC Oaks in the spring by nine lengths, bonny filly Mosheen (3f Fastnet Rock x Sumehra, by Stravinsky) has little to prove against the fillies, but the daughter of Fastnet Rock scaled a personal Everest on Saturday when she downed the colts to win the Group I VRC Australian Guineas at Flemington. The Robert Smerdon trained filly won easily when resuming from a spell, before being touched out by Shopaholic in the Group III VRC The Vanity over 1400 metres, but the step back out to a mile proved to be exactly what she was looking for. Ridden to perfection by regular partner Danny Nikolic, Mosheen was able to overcome a horror outside barrier to snare her second win at the highest level. She jumped well and crossed quickly to slot in and find a spot near the fence and when produced in the straight, showed a brilliant turn of foot that carried her swiftly into the lead. A $250,000 purchase from the Bylong Park Thoroughbreds draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Mosheen hit the line three lengths clear of her nearest rival taking her overall record to five wins and five placings from 12 starts with more than $2million in prizemoney. “Absolutely unbelievable!” said Robert Smerdon. “This is the greatest thrill. We thought we had her flying, but then when we saw the barrier we spat the dummy. “That was an amazing ride. I don’t know how Danny got her where he did. I’ll have to go and watch the replay. “She’s very talented and has always run at the highest level and never run poorly. To my mind, she’s a star!” Danny Nikolic has ridden Mosheen in all bar one of her 12 starts and if anyone could work some magic to get her home it was always going to be him. “It was a great team effort, I just put on the finishing touches,” Nikolic said. “Back in the spring Atlantic Jewel was better than her (Mosheen), but I think we could test her now, we’re stronger and more seasoned.” Raced by a partnership including her original owner Phil Sly and leading Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida, Mosheen is one of eight Group I winners for leading young sire Fastnet Rock and is the second of his Group I winners trained by Robert Smerdon, who also puts the polish on SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner Lone Rock. Bred by Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, Mosheen is the first foal of the Stravinsky mare Sumehra (NZ), a winning half-sister to Group I HK Derby and International Mile winner Lucky Owners and stakes-winner Miss Power Bird from the family of champion racehorse Might and Power, whose many wins included Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.