It's not often that a galloper who has won fourteen of his 31 starts can be described as flying under the radar.
That description is particularly apt though
for six-year-old gelding Moss 'N' Dale who claimed the biggest win of his
career on Saturday when he relished the rain-affected track at Randwick to take
out the Gr.3 Craven Plate (2000m).
Bred at Te Runga Stud by Wayne Larsen, who shares in the ownership of the Castledale gelding with Australian based bloodstock agent Lenny Russo and a host of his enthusiastic friends and associates, Moss 'N' Dale has never attracted the attention that others with less impressive career records have generated.
That suits Larsen who welcomed a full-brother to the gelding's family just over a month ago.
"I guess more people will sit up now and look at him as he's never been a horse that has featured in conversations despite his overall record," he said.
"It takes a good, tough horse to win 14 races and that is exactly what he is. He's from a colonial family that only gets better with age and maturity so I would expect he is probably only reaching his prime now.
"When you look back at who he has run against it makes pretty good reading. He has pushed Group One horses on a number of occasions.
"He ran second to Magic Consol over a mile at Flemington back in July and ran him pretty close.
"He went on and won a Group Two at his next start so we know our fella can certainly match it at that level."
While Larsen and the team were confident of a good performance once the rain hit Sydney during the week leading into the race, his real sense of satisfaction comes from providing young apprentice Jack Martin with the opportunity to open some big doors in his riding future.
"Jack suits the horse and has ridden him well at every start he has been on him," he said.
"His ride on him at Flemington when he won over 1400m in May was as good as you will see.
"He did a great job on him again on Saturday and being a part of giving a young lad like him an opportunity gives me as much pleasure as the win itself because we all want that opportunity in life.
"We might be able to look back in a few years and say that was the moment when it all changed for him which would be pretty special."
Larsen is now looking forward to seeing more members of Moss 'N' Dale's family make their mark on the racing scene with younger brother Moss 'N' Bolt already on the right side of the winning ledger.
"Moss 'N' Bolt is also with Peter Gelagotis and has a win on the board from seven starts," he said.
"He has been out spelling but is getting ready to make his return.
"I've also got their two-year-old full brother here at home and he will likely head over the Tasman in the autumn.
"He has had a couple of preps and is showing the family ability. He will most likely race in a similar ownership to the other two as there is plenty of interest from people about him and how he is going.
"Their dam, Hot 'N' Moss foaled another colt about a month ago and he is a little cracker. He has thrown a lot more to his sire with a big white blaze and he has plenty of leg about him."
Strategic Image mare Hot 'N' Moss won two of her 20 raceday starts and hails from the family of multiple Group One winner Moss Downs. She will be served by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor in the coming weeks. – NZ Racing Desk
