Caulfield racing on Saturday is shaping up as a truly tantalising affair with many of last season’s top crop of juveniles making their three-year-old debuts including Golden Slipper runner-up and Thousand Guineas 2011 hopeful Mosheen who will have her first start for new trainer Robert Smerdon.
Mosheen was one of 19 nominations for the $100,000 Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield this weekend, the race noted as a traditional kick-off for the most promising Group One-bound spring fillies.
A nicely bred daughter of Australian stallion Fastnet Rock from Stravinsky mare Sumehra, Mosheen emerged as a genuine star during the autumn winning her race debut over 1000 metres at Caulfield in March when under the preparation of Kyneton-based trainer Leon Corstens.
Mosheen faces a tough first-up run in the Quezette facing the likes of Satin Shoes (pictured)
Corstens had a feeling about this filly and despite her inexperience Mosheen went into the richest race for two-year-olds in the world, the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 2.
With just one race start to her name, Mosheen jumped as a $100 roughie in the Golden Slipper and in a massive shock she managed to come within two lengths when finishing a brave second behind winner Sepoy.
Having been transferred to the stables of Caulfield horseman Smerdon during the winter upon the request of her connections, Mosheen is now gearing up for her first-up run of the spring in the Quezette Stakes, a race Smerdon is both excited and anxious over.
“She has done a lot of work and she has a very business-like approach to her job,” Smerdon said of the fine three-year-old.
“I think when you get a class racehorse like her the expectations can be huge.
“You don’t have a Golden Slipper runner turn up at your stables every day.”
It will be a tough turf test on Saturday for the very promising Mosheen as she will face the likes of Clarry Conner’s Group 2 winner Satin Shoes, the Peter Snowden-trained daughter of Redoute’s Choice Glissade, Snitzel filly Hollyweird and the Peter Moody-trained duo of Cute Emily and Metonymy.
Smerdon has named the $500,000 Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Wednesday October 12 as Mosheen’s main spring aim, believing she has a very strong chance in the classic.
“We will take Saturday’s race as a guide to where she toes but the One Thousand Guineas is her ultimate goal, and after that we will just wait and see how she copes,” Smerdon said.
There is also a chance of Mosheen travelling to Sydney next month for the coveted $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
In the early 2011 Thousand Guineas odds, Mosheen has opened as a $13 chance behind favourites Pane In The Glass ($10), Shared Reflections ($11) and Elite Falls ($11).
Leading online bookmaker Luxbet also has Mosheen in their Golden Rose betting markets, the filly paying $21.
Mosheen comes into the Quezette Stakes fresh and despite not having had an official hit-out, Smerdon is confident her fitness is right to resume.
“I haven’t trialled her,” he admitted.
“I didn’t think it was needed. Her work has been good, she has had a good foundation and the bonus will be that there will be plenty of improvement in her.
“Her racing pattern as I can see doesn’t demand she be ridden a long way back as when she won her first race at Caulfield she was able to take up a position near the front.”
The 2011 Quezette Stakes final field and barriers are due for release on Wednesday, which is also when Luxbet will open betting on the feature.
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