Mosserati finding his stride: Palmer
JOCKEY Matthew Palmer rides Mosserati nearly every day in track work and despite the gelding’s early racing struggles the hoop knew he was on the cusp of a win.
Palmer rode the Bruce Hill-trained Mosserati to victory in the Maiden Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday to record the first highlight of a seven-run career that had previously only included a best finish of fifth.
“He has shown a lot of promise,” Palmer said following Mosserati’s win in the first start of this preparation.
“He has had a previous prep before and to be honest it was pretty disappointing in most of his runs.
“This preparation he has really improved, both in his attitude and his work.
“I ride him in track work nearly every day so I know the horse inside and out and his progress this whole preparation over the past nine weeks has been outstanding so it was good to get a win out of him.
“It probably just comes down to a bit of time and maturity. He had a few little minor setbacks. He had a hoof issue and got an injury in one of his previous starts. But he has had a clean prep so far and it’s paid off.”
Don Barron, Hill’s foreman, said Mosserati was starting to show the talent they always knew he had. “It was an encouraging run,” Barron said.
“We always knew he could gallop. Things just didn’t pan out his way last preparation but he seems to be going better now.
“If he runs up to his ability we think he will be more than competitive. He looks like a promising horse who will certainly get further.”