Grahame Begg is crossing his fingers Mossin’ Around can have a trouble-free summer preparation which is set to begin at Caulfield.
The mare suffered boils early in her preparation for her last campaign which was terminated before Melbourne Cup week.
On Saturday Mossin’ Around makes her return in a Fillies and Mares Benchmark 84 race over 1100m in which she will be ridden by Craig Williams.
Begg said Mossin’ Around had blossomed during a three-week break after her last campaign.
“We had her nominated for Derby day in the mares’ race but she had a bit of mucus in the trachea and a little bit in her lungs so we pulled the pin,” Begg said.
“We treated her and gave her three weeks off and she did very well during that break so I couldn’t afford to give her much longer than that.”
Mossin’ Around strung together four second placings on the trot last autumn, two of them coming at stakes level at Caulfield.
Risque defeated her over 1200m in the Group Three Kevin Hayes Stakes before she ran second to Catch A Fire in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes at 1400m.
Begg is hopeful Mossin’ Around can recapture that type of form and get her rating up leading towards better quality mares’ races during the autumn.
“Often horses can race well at certain times of the year,” Begg said.
“There’s some nice races coming up in the autumn, particularly down here because what can happen is the Sydney ones stay at home whereas in the spring they come down.
“We feel she’s in good shape so hopefully she can get another win under the belt and get her rating up.”
Mossin’ Around tuned up for Saturday’s return with a jump-out over 750m at Balnarring on December 23 finishing just behind the placegetters with Begg describing it as a nice comfortable trial.
Begg knows Saturday’s race won’t be easy with the likes of Chiavari and Lyuba engaged.
“It’s a good competitive race but we’re going into the race in good order,” he said.
