Kiwi Quiet Achiever Gets Biggest Win at Randwick

Media Release - Sunday October 14

It's not often that a galloper who has won fourteen of his 31 starts can be described as flying under the radar.

Moss 'n' Dale - image Steve HartThat 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.

Advertisement

"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

Advertisment
More Reading...
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
G3 Win for It's Destiny's Child
Underrated sprinter Its Destinys Child bounced back from an unplaced run in Group One company at her last start to take out the Group III  Preferment@Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
First Stakes Win for Its Destinys Child
Underrated mare Its Destinys Child upset the apple-cart to provide rider Sam Spratt with a winning black-type double at Pukekohe on Saturday when taking out the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.