Top chance for Oaks winner to bounce back

New Zealand Oaks winner Miss Mossman has a golden chance at Awapuni on Tuesday to return to her best form.

Last season’s Group One heroine has yet to fire this preparation, but she has been racing at distances well short of her best and the Nufarm Handicap presents her with a much more suitable opportunity.

“She’s a year older and she has taken a little longer to come up,” co-trainer Andrew Scott said. “She’s getting there now and her last run was a lot more encouraging.”

Miss Mossman finished fifth over a mile at Te Rapa and the 2100 metre trip at Awapuni will be to her liking.

“It’s an ideal race to step her up over more ground,” Scott said. “The trip away will bring her on as well and get her confidence going.

“Any easing of the ground will help her and we think she’s on the right track now.”

Miss Mossman will face only five rivals with last-start winners Langdon and Anniesstar obvious threats while further improvement can also be expected from fellow Matamata hope Lilly Belle.

A half-sister to the stakes performer Our Tigress, the Savabeel mare has won three of her five starts over ground and was successful over this trip on her last visit to Awapuni in the autumn.

Lilly Belle has made steady progress this campaign with minor placings over a mile at her last two appearances and she looks on the verge of winning form again.

The other open event on the card, the Agriseeds Handicap, will mark the return of the former Karaka Million placegetter Touche.

He was placed in a recent trial at Waverley and with apprentice Michael Dee’s claim he looks well-placed with 53kg to make an impact.