Ofcourseican off to stud

Mossman’s Group 1 winning mare Ofcourseican has been retired by her owner-breeder David Bentata.

Ofcourseican (6m Mossman – Yes She Can Cancan by Canny Lad) won the G3 Liverpool City Cup and G1 Coolmore Classic at the autumn carnival and signed off with a game third to Atlantic Jewel and Rain Affair in the G1 All-Aged Stakes.

The Ron Quinton trained mare highlighted a bumper season for Vinery based stallion Mossman.  He was represented by 88 winners of 148 races in Australia and, among his other stakes winners, were Buffering, Love Conquers All, Neeson, Second Effort and Under The Eiffel.

Ofcourseican joins her younger half-brother Gimmethegreenlight at stud this year.  Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) was a G1 winner of the South African Queen’s Plate in January and will start serving his first mares at Varfontein Stud next month.

Bentata is weighing up several options before deciding on a stallion for Ofcourseican.  “She never missed a gallop or left an oat in her life,” Bentata said.  “Ronnie thinks there’s another big race in her and is obviously disappointed to see her go.  Hopefully, I can make it up to him with another nice one from the family in the future.”

Yes She Can Cancan has a two year-old colt by Sebring that’s been named Longma.  He failed at reach a $150,000 reserve as a foal at the 2011 Inglis Easter Weanling Sale and is now on the books with Gai Waterhouse.

Yes She Can Cancan delivered a Nadeem filly in 2011 but died in April.  “I will keep the filly – she won’t go to the sales next year,” Bentata said.  “She’s the closest thing to Canny Lad the mare ever foaled.”

Mossman (Success Express) will stand for a $27,500 (inc gst) fee at Vinery this year.  “He’s been a remarkably consistent sire throughout his career despite small books early on,” Vinery’s Conor Phelan explained.  ”His winners-to-runners is well above average and most of his stakes winners have come in the past two or three seasons which is a result of greater opportunities rather than better mares.”

OFCOURSEICAN
G1 Coolmore Stakes winner retired to stud