ON paper yesterday's $25,000 Qube Logistics Cotton Cup (1600m) was a two-horse race but grand veteran Mossamine turned the race into a one-act affair with a dashing all-the-way win that gave jockey Greg Ryan his first win in the race.
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Mossamine's trainer Clint Lundholm joked afterwards that he had lost the bragging rights he had over Ryan, as he had previously won the Cup as an apprentice when he guided Miss Watanabe to an eight-length victory over Doctor Danzig in the 2005 edition of the race.
"It was probably the one feature I'd won that Greg hadn't, and now he's levelled up with me," Lundholm said.
"We came here reasonably confident that he'd go well. The race went to script really with the old fella getting an easy lead and kicking strongly down the straight."
Private Taber's jockey Kody Nestor was positive when the stalls opened, pushing the recent Dubbo, Coonamble and Coonabarabran Cup runner-up forward but he was content to let Mossamine ($2.80 eq fav) take up the running shortly after the start.
Once in front though, Ryan was able to drop the anchor and slow the tempo of the race.
As the field rounded the home turn Ryan upped the ante and got his rivals off the bit, and while Private Taber ($2.80 eq fav) was game he never looked likely to run down Mossamine, which powered to the line to win by three lengths.
Private Taber held second place comfortably, with Lord Burghersh ($6.00, Mathew Cahill) a further two-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
The first two placegetters both went into yesterday's race with form stemming from the recent country cups, and while Private Taber had finished in front of Mossamine at Coonamble and Coonabarabran, Lundholm hadn't given up hope.
"He had excuses in those other races," Lundholm said.
"At Coonamble he was a bit underdone and the other day at Coonabarabran he was three wide facing the breeze and still hit the line well.
"I thought I had him pretty spot on for today, and with the small field and the slow tempo it was his race to win and he did that."
With the Cotton Cup firmly locked away, Lundholm will now aim the Mossman x Glint Of Gold gelding at the Walgett Cup (1400m) on November 22.
"The owners are from out at Walgett and they've won the past two with Relentless Lad so they're keen to try and make it three in a row," Lundholm said.
"He'll probably have to carry the grandstand now but we'll go there and then see where we go after that.
"Are You Sure ran fourth in Sydney on Saturday and his form is similar to ours so we could probably take him for a crack down there now because the fields are small and the races aren't as strong, and he's probably going as well as I can get him going."
