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2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun has been retired, following a disappointing career post-Slipper. Is she just one of many Golden Slipper winners that struggle after taking out the big one?
The first thing to note is that any owner would be thrilled if their horse won the Golden Slipper and didn’t manage another win.
That’s almost been the case for old gelding Phelan Ready, a heart-breaker that stormed the Magic Millions and the Slipper in 2009, and then didn’t win again for nearly five years!
He’s mixed running at the back with competitive racing, often jagging a place at any old price. (And despite just four wins in 52 starts, he’s taken more than $3.5 million in prize money.)
Mossfun, a three-year old filly, beat out Earthquake to the Slipper and won four of her first five starts in the two-year-old autumn season. She missed the spring following a virus, and in her three-year-old career managed just a second placing in the Birthday Card Group 3 at Rosehill on March 21.
Michael Hawkes from the Hawkes team told media Mossfun “did her job”.
“Targeting a Golden Slipper, getting her there on the day and winning it – it doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.
“But she just didn’t come back at the level we had hoped. It happens with two-year-olds and the virus she contracted during the spring of last year took more out of her than any of us realised.
“For an $85,000 yearling she will now to go to stud as a valuable broodmare, a Group 1 winner, and a Golden Slipper winner.”
Mossfun isn’t alone, with fillies particularly susceptible to a post-Slipper slump.
2013 winner Overreach has had just two starts since winning the race. She’s been plagued by injury, running third in each start.
2012 and 2011 winners Pierro and Sepoy were both highly successful beyond their Slipper wins, both champion horses.
2010 winner Crystal Lily finished without a win beyond the Golden Slipper, although did tackle top Group 1s running second in the Newmarket, William Reid and Goodwood.
2008 winner Sebring almost completed the two-year-old triple crown before being retired following injury and an unsatisfactory return to the track, and was retired to stud where he stands at Widden.
2007 winner Forensics managed a successful career post-Slipper, winning the Golden Rose, Queen of the Turf, the Myer Classic and competed at the top level for a number of years after her success.
2006 winner Miss Finland went on to be a quality Group 1 mare, winning the VRC Oaks as well as the Thousand and Australian Guineas, although she won just once in her four-year-old career before being retired.
2005 winner Stratum is regarded as the best son of Redoute’s Choice but more for his gun-sire attributes. He sired Crystal Lily and other horses like Streama.
2004 winner Dance Hero was one of the best two-year-olds of all time and went on to compete as champion. Chris Munce wrote about Dance Hero here, noting him as one of the best ever.
So, of the past 11 winners, fillies Mossfun, Overreach and Crystal Lily didn’t manage a win. Most didn’t compete beyond their four-year-old career, by which most were no longer outstanding chances.
The message is clear – champion horses at the two-year-old level are precocious, but don’t have longevity, using their brilliance early in their careers.
The attrition rate out of the Slipper is certainly higher than other races but placegetters – including recent fillies Earthquake, Sweet Idea, Snitzerland and Mosheen – have gone on to win at Group 1 level.
There’s no hoodoo, but there is a pattern; winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper is likely to be the pinnacle – but what a pinnacle it is.