Coming off an excellent third in the Group III San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on August 13, Foxwedge filly Kentucky Miss showed her class in Saturday's $120,000 Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington but the $201 first-starter Beyond The Dream made her fight every step of the way.
The nuggetty Kentucky Miss was not far off the best fillies last season after bolting in on a heavy track at Warwick Farm when on debut.
Kept to the middle of the track by Damien Oliver, the Joe Pride-trained filly was strong to the line.
The Dream Ahead (USA) first-starter Beyond The Dream gave young Ballarat-based trainer Yoshitomo Shima and jockey Yusuke Ichikawa a huge thrill when making her run with the winner to go down by a half-head followed by two more Sydneysiders My Country and Super Too. (photo Grant Courtney)
Kentucky Miss becomes the second stakes-winner in the space of seven days for Newgate Farm's Foxwedge after Foxplay captured last Saturday's Furious Stakes at Randwick.
"It wasn't the plan to race without cover, that's what happened at Caulfield and led to her demise," Pride said
She was really strong today, credit to the filly she was exposed a long way out and kept going to the line.
"She's always shown a lot, she's quite a diminutive little filly but she's got a big heart and tries very well."
"I was planning on bringing her back on Oaks Day in the race for fillies (GIII Red Roses), but there are other options as well. I think she'll measure up in the autumn and could take on the older horses with the weight relief.
"She's very well put together, she's basically the perfect thoroughbred just a hand smaller than what would be ideal, very strong filly who will keep developing.
A $250,000 purchase by her trainer from the Luskin Park draft at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale, Kentucky Miss races for a syndicate led by Wilf Mula's Aston Bloodstock and the Whelan family.
She is the first foal of the imported Deputy Storm mare Twelve Pack Shelley (USA) a dual Listed Stakes winner in the U.S.
Twelve Pack Shelley (USA) has a yearling filly by Foxwedge and was bred back to the son of Fastnet Rock last spring.
Kentucky Miss becomes the third stakes-winner for Foxwedge who stands the current season at Newgate Farm at a fee of $22,000
