Charismatic grey mare White Moss returned to the winner's circle for the first time since winning the same race twelve months ago with a dominant display in Saturday’s Group II Sapphire Stakes at Randwick.
A lucky last minute ride for Nash Rawiller, the 6yo daughter of Mossman led all the way to defeat the 4yo So You Think mare Fasika by a length with a further length and a half back to the Medaglia d’Oro (USA) filly Bangkok in third.
It was the fourth stakes-win for the Jason Coyle-trained mare and her third at Group II level advancing her record to 8 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 24 starts with earnings of $800,695.
“She’s been a wonderful mare for the stable. She’s been racing in really good form in a higher grade so it was nice to bring her back to mares grade and everything worked out perfectly for her,” Coyle said.
“She left the barriers as good as she has this preparation and although it was a big field they left her alone in front and when she can get those sectionals she always gives a good kick and gives her all.”
A homebred for Michele Esplin and her children Hamish, Patrick and Elise, White Moss is out of the Group II winner and Group 1 ARC Railway Hcp runner-up Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails) who was a $240,000 buy for the late Phillip Esplin at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A half-sister to Listed winner White Sage (Reset), White Moss is one of six winners out of Pay My Bail who died in February 2017 after being covered by Dundeel the previous spring.
Another of Pay My Bail’s daughters, the winning Starcraft mare Runway Runaway is the dam of the Listed winner Fox Swift (Foxwedge).
The Esplin's still own White Sage, whose Animal Kingdom filly sold for $70,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
She has a colt foal by Ribchester (IRE) but was not covered last spring.
