For a tiny filly that cost just $2,000 as a yearling, the Stephen and Trevor McKee-trained Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails) was a great overachiever on the racetrack.
Winner of the Group II Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes and runner-up in the Group I
Purchased privately by Starcraft's owner Paul Makin in her later career on the track, , Pay My Bail eventually found a home with the Esplin family who paid $240,000 for her through Vin Cox, as
Out of a half-sister to the outstanding miler Shifnal Prince, Pay My Bail teamed up with Zabeel's unbeaten son Reset to produce White Sage who won five of her seven starts including the Listed ATC Festival Stakes while placing in the Group II ATC Breeders' Classic.
Like White Sage, Pay My Bail's sixth foal, White Moss carries the Esplin family's Tartan silks.
The 4yo daughter of Mossman made her first attempt at stakes class in the Group III Nivison (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday and came out an impressive one and quarter length winner over Zestful (Redoute's Choice) with Kinshachi (Commands) a half-neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart).
It advances the record of White Moss to 5 wins and 1 second from 8 starts with earnings of $213,120.
Winning trainer Jason Coyle said the near-white mare had earned a trip to Melbourne.
He was original considering the $120,000 Off The Track Subzero Benchmark 90 Challenge (1400m) for greys on Oaks day but will need to reassess after her stakes breakthrough.
"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.
"She's not an overly big mare but hopefully now it's all coming together for her."
Pay My Bail went back to Reset in 2014 producing her seventh filly who was consigned to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where she was knocked down to Henry Dwyer Racing / Randwick Bloodstock for $180,000.
Sadly, she is Pay My Bail's final foal. She died in February after being covered by Dundeel the previous spring.
The Esplin's still own White Sage, who has a yearling filly by Charge Forward and was covered by More Than Ready last year.
White Moss looks capable of earning further honours to the family before she embarks on her own broodmare career.
She becomes the 36th stakes winner for Vinery Stud's evergreen stallion Mossman .
