Will the plunge payoff for wet-track gun Moss ‘N’ Dale?
CONNECTIONS of Moss ‘N’ Dale will be hoping the heavy conditions expected for Saturday’s meeting in Rosehill remain unchanged as the gelding resumes its racing career following a three-week spell.
The wet conditions anticipated has seen Moss ‘N’ Dale’s opening quote of $4.40 almost halved to +180 at Crownbet.com.au to take out the TAB Rewards benchmark 85 at Rosehill on Saturday.
Saturday’s meeting at Rosehill will be the first time we see the talented four-year-old on the racetrack since its heartbreaking defeat in the Echuca Cup on May 28.
Moss n dale. What a good thing beat… what was the jockey thinking ????
— Racinggod (@Racinggod1) May 28, 2017
The Castledale and Hot ‘N’ Moss progeny is looking to continue a stellar record on wet tracks which has seen it win five times and miss the placings just once from eight attempts on heavy or soft surfaces.
Stable representative Manny Gelagotis admitted the expected conditions at Rosehill were the decisive factor in taking the gun runner up to Sydney rather than remaining in Victoria.
“The wet track probably played a big role in our decision to make the right hand turn as opposed to the left hand one to be honest,” Gelagotis told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He’s got a great record in the wet and we think this is one he can take out, for sure.”
This is what Moss’n’Dale did to Peter Gelagotis earlier this month at Warrnambool. Let’s hope the dance continues in today’s Echuca cup.??? pic.twitter.com/WLlVSpVQGO
— Tony Ferraro (@tonyferraro3) May 28, 2017
This will be Moss ‘N’ Dale’s first start since it narrowly went down to Tshahitsi in the Echuca Cup on May 28.
The four-year-old looked to be the class horse of the field and had a quality run in transit, but the eventual winner powered home strongly to relegate the gelding to second.
Moss ‘N’ Dale was a $2.80 favourite across the board to take out the Echuca Cup, and many blamed 19-year-old superstar in the making Beau Merten’s for the horse’s failure.
What a weak rider. Absolutely PATHETIC @RVStewards
— Aaron (@AaronByouHACK) May 28, 2017
Although Mertens drew the ire of the racing public that invested on his horse, Gelagotis said he could not fault the apprentice’s ride.
“It was an absolutely perfect ride from Beau in my opinion,” Gelagotis said.
“The winner came three wide and was just really strong, sometimes you have to just concede you were beaten by the better horse on the day.
“I have absolutely no problems with the ride at all though, it was ten out of ten for me. I’m not sure he could have done anything more to get him over the line.”
Jack Martin – who has piloted Moss ‘N’ Dale for two wins from a pair of attempts – will take the ride aboard Moss ‘N’ Dale on Saturday.
The rider of Moss N Dale is Jack Martin ! Good luck to who ever fancies him on the weekend #someonedoes #goodluck
— Manny Gelagotis (@hvasstan) June 14, 2017
Despite the heartbreak of the Echuca Cup defeat, the form lines read extremely well for the gelding coming out of the race.
Tshahitsi has since gone on to take out a handicap race at Flemington in impressive fashion, something which has given Moss ‘N’ Dale’s team hope that they too have a progressive-style horse on their hands.
? Expect Tshahitsi form will be good form on Sat #Moss‘n’Dale #HeartStarter
— Brad ?? (@HorseMiller3) June 15, 2017
“The form lines cannot be faulted for Moss ‘N’ Dale, he’s got a great record on the softer tracks and he has won before in Sydney. He’s coming into this one ready to win.
“He’s good on the wet track, and we take plenty of confidence from the fact the cup winner went on to win at Flemington just a week ago.”
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