Mogador’s reputation as one of the genuine talents of Godolphin’s powerful two-year-old string has been restored in an emphatic manner at Rosehill.
Standing the leaders a six-length start at the 200m, Mogador unleashed a lethal run before winning Monday’s TAB Place Multi Plate by 1-3/4 lengths from Kamacite.
The impressive nature of the win reaffirmed why trainer John O’Shea was willing to give Mogador his chance to make it as a Golden Slipper horse.
And while the was never a question about the youngster’s precocity to match it with the best autumn two-year-olds, his frame could not cope with the demands of a Golden Slipper campaign.
“His body was always a little bit immature and a bit weak,” Godolphin spokesman Darren Beadman said.
Since Mogador returned to training after finishing fourth to stablemate Exosphere in the Skyline Stakes in February, Beadman said O’Shea was focused on making the colt a better racehorse.
“The horse is trying to run before he can actually walk. He’s trying to do everything in such a hurry,” Beadman said.
“John has been trying to get the horse to switch off and relax because we know he has got a good turn of foot.”
Mogador had late backing to start second favourite at $3.80 but his supporters would have been nervous when Sam Clipperton had his mount at the back of the field.
But it was all part of a plan, even if it was one that relied on a fair slice of fortune.
“It looked a bit touch-and-go there for a while but I had a lot of horse underneath me,” Clipperton said.
“When he switched across heels he really exploded. It was an unbelievable win.”
Beadman said it was obvious Mogador would turn out to be better than the average winter-class two-year-old and the experience gained from the win could not be understated.
“What he did today is going to help him down the track,” Beadman said.
“It was very comforting to see him do everything right today.”
