Jason Coyle says the time is right to step White Moss up to black-type racing as he looks further ahead to autumn and winter targets for the mare.
White Moss returned from a spell earlier this month to win a midweek sprint at Canterbury and confirm plans to run her in the Group Three City Tattersalls Club Nivison (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The four-year-old won three of her five starts last preparation and brought that form to Canterbury despite facing adversity.
“We probably saw a little bit more than we needed too,” Coyle said.
“Given she sat wide she was probably entitled to be a little bit weak late but she was probably strongest on the line.
“That shows she’s come back in pretty good order and a mare with a building record deserves a chance in a stakes race.”
The Warwick Farm trainer said White Moss would be limited to three or four races this campaign in order to prepare her for next year.
“I think our main target is going to be that autumn, winter period and this should set her up nicely for it.”
Coyle said ideally she would line up in the Group One Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) in Brisbane in June.
Although White Moss faces a tough initiation to Group racing, Coyle draws confidence from her pedigree which includes her stakes-winning half-sister White Sage.
White Sage won the Listed Festival Stakes in 2013 and the following February ran third in a strong edition of the Group Two Breeders’ Classic won by Catkins from Steps In Time.
A few weeks later she was forced into retirement though injury.
“The family has proven it can step up to stakes level. White Sage probably could have gone on to better races,” Coyle said.
White Moss was at $13 in early markets ahead of Wednesday’s acceptances.
The Ron Quinton-trained duo Daysee Doom and Dixie Blossoms were the joint $6 favourites.
Coyle also plans to accept with Siren’s Fury so the four-year-old can kick off a preparation that may lead to Melbourne.
Siren’s Fury trialled impressively at Hawkesbury but Coyle said he would monitor her over the next few days.
“She only trialled on Monday so she’ll have to please me every day through to Saturday,” Coyle said.
Sweet Serendipity rounds out Coyle’s team in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m).
“It took him two runs to find his feet last preparation and I’m thinking much the same. I expect him to peak third or fourth-up in benchmarks,” Coyle said.
