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Mosshiki to take advantage of drop in class

14 January 2020

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By Glenn Davis

A drop in class and a return to a more suitable distance has boosted trainer Rob Heathcote’s confidence with promising three-year-old Mosshiki at Doomben on Thursday.

Mosshiki finished fifth at his first middle distance attempt over 2000 metres at Doomben on December 7 before a brave third to the Gerald Ryan-trained Chains Of Honour in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2400m) at Eagle Farm two weeks later.

The son of Mossman has won only one race in 10 starts but returns to a more suitable trip over 1615 metres in the Class Two Handicap.

Heathcote was far from disappointed with Mosshiki’s first middle distance attempt in a heat of the Eagle Way Series at Doomben last month and was pleased with his subsequent placing in the Grand Prix.

“I loved his run in the Grand Prix and it showed he should have won his previous start when he struck interference on the home turn when he ran fifth at Doomben,” Heathcote said.

“He ran into a pretty smart horse in Chains Of Honour in the Grand Prix but he just didn’t stay.

“He’s a nice horse with a bright future but he needs to win more prizemoney if he’s to go on to the Brisbane winter carnival.

“I’ve also got him nominated for Eagle Farm on Saturday which also looks an attractive race for him but at this stage he’s running Thursday.”

Mosshiki is a son of Mossman whose breed are noted sprinters and are rarely successful over middle distances.

Heathcote knows the breed well as two of his former star gallopers were the progeny of Mossman.

His best Mossman performer was multiple Group 1 winner Buffering, who won $7.3 million in prizemoney, with 20 wins and 17 placings during a 55-start career.

He also prepared another son of Mossman in Hopfgarten, who won almost $900,000 in prizemoney with 13 wins in 62 starts including the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm and Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in 2014.

Mosshiki was eligible for the Magic Millions last Saturday but Heathcote felt there was no suitable races for him.

Heathcote was active at the recent Magic Millions sales buying 10 yearlings.

“I bought 10 quality yearlings at the Magic Millions and anyone interested can go to my website to look at them,” he said.

 Racing Queensland webnews   January 14