Another Group One for Magnificent Mosheen

On this day last year, high class three year-old filly Mosheen (3f Fastnet Rock x Sumehra, by Stravinsky) gave notice of things to come when charging home for second to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper at 100-1 and this year she atoned with a tenacious win in the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000 metres. Ridden forward by regular partner Danny Nikolic to control the race, Mosheen dictated in front and then slipped her rivals at the top of the straight with a swift change of gear. Mosheen opened up a four length break on the field, before Streama settled down to throw out her challenge, finishing doggedly to snatch second place beaten half a length. Winning trainer Robert Smerdon admitted to a few anxious moments over the concluding stages but said he always thought Mosheen would hold off Streama. "I never really thought she (Streama) would get there but I didn't really need the way it was unfolding,” Smerdon said. "I didn't have any instructions for him (Nikolic) but if it turned into a sprint home, I didn't think he would get going that early. "He (Nikolic) probably reasoned that he had an easy run but he turned it into a sprint home. She'd been asked to sustain a long, searching run so she was obviously getting a bit of fatigue late.” Smerdon said Mosheen's connections had plenty to consider over the next week with the options including a run in the Group I ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 21 or spell ahead of a Cox Plate campaign in the spring. "It's a line ball,” Mosheen said. "She has got such a great constitution but she's done a lot and she can do more if we look after her. "We are going to take the time we have got to think about that. We'll take her back home tomorrow and we'll think about whether we go to the Oaks or go to the paddock. "We have got to think about the future and there is an old phrase in racing that you don't make decisions on race day.” Purchased for $250,000 from the Bylong Park Thoroughbreds draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Mosheen has the impressive record of seven wins and five placings from 14 starts with $2.6 million in prizemoney. From seven starts at Group I level, Mosheen has was won four of them and finished second twice, her only failure when finishing sixth to Hurtle Myrtle against the older mares in the Group I VRC Myer Classic against the older mares. Raced by a partnership including her original owner Phil Sly and leading Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida, Mosheen is one of nine 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 (USA) 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. Sumehra was covered again by Fastnet Rock last spring. Fastnet Rock has a stunning draft of 50 youngsters to be offered at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.