Trainer Jason Coyle had his sights set on the Flemington greys race during the Melbourne Cup carnival but that appears no longer likely for White Moss after she claimed the Group III Nivison (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Coyle was considering the $120,000 Off The Track Subzero Benchmark 90 Challenge (1400m) on Oaks day for the mare but it's now likely he will need to reassess due to the prospect of the four-year-old's rating being too high after her maiden black-type win.
"We'll have to see what the handicappers do to her," Coyle said.
"She came into this with a benchmark of 80 and that's likely to jump a fair bit so we might have to change the plans.
"It's a nice problem to have."
White Moss ($4.40 fav), a daughter of Mossman, raced up outside the leader Diddums before beating that horse off inside the 300m and drawing clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Diddums ($4.60) held onto second, a half-neck clear of Zestful ($31) in third.
"This was a bit of a step-up but she showed she's got a fair bit of ability," winning rider Jason Collett said.
"She's a very easy ride. She jumps, she puts herself right there, she's hard on the bridle and she gives you something when you ask. You couldn't really ask for much more."
Coyle said next year is when he will ask the serious questions of White Moss, saying she will run "seven furlongs easily" but further distances remain unknown.
"We cuddled her early in her career because she's not an overly big mare and now she's really rewarding our patience," he said.
"Through the line she's always been strong so I'm hopeful she will run a mile but you never really know until you ask them to try.
"In the autumn there's races like the Coolmore but we'll see how we go. Ultimately the long-term goal is to take her to Queensland to try to get that elusive Group I (Tatt's Tiara)."
The win was White Moss's fifth from eight starts and took her earnings to more than $200,000.
