Foxwedge Mare Wins G1 Pretty Polly

Tara Madgwick - Monday July 2
Newgate Farm's Foxwedge starred overnight in Ireland when his quality four year-old daughter Urban Fox downed this year's Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together to win the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh.

Prepared by William Haggas, Urban Fox settled just behind the leaders and then powered to the line for Daniel Tudhope to win the 1m2f contest by more than three lengths in a commanding victory.

FoxwedgeIt was the first Black Type win for Urban Fox, who had been stakes-placed four times previously including a third in the Group I Newmarket Fillies Mile and was a last start fourth at Royal Ascot in the Group II Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

"Urban Fox ran very well in the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot and William thought the step up in trip would suit her well," said Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer William Haggas.

"Royal Ascot can be hard on a filly however they run but she put the weight she lost back on quickly and we knew she was in good form.

"The staff at home have done a brilliant job with her. We couldn't be confident – we were taking on the Oaks winner – and we're just hoping our filly would run well and that she might get placed.

"I spoke to William shortly before the race and he said to me that he didn't think [running the filly] was a good idea. I told him it was too late and that I had the jockey standing in front of me and ready for action!

"I'm just thrilled to bits for the owners and I couldn't be more pleased. She's a beautiful filly and will make a lovely broodmare for her owners when she goes to stud."

Urban Fox was bought by her current owners South African based Barnane Stud for 425,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year and now has the overall record of five wins from 18 starts.

Urban Fox is the best of five winners from Lomapamar, a Nashwan half-sister to Group II winner Mons and to the dam of Australian stakes-winner Pronto Pronto.

She is the eighth stakes-winner and third Group I winner for Foxwedge joining Foxplay and Volpe Veloce.

The Group I winning son of Fastnet Rock has sired over 90 Australian winners this season including 11 stakes horses and stands this spring at a fee of $22,000.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Star Kiwi Foxwedge Mare Primed for G2 Theo Marks
Group One winner Volpe Veloce will have the opportunity to continue an impressive streak when she lines-up in the Group II  Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Foxwedge Fillies Show Their Class
A new addition to Woodside Park in Victoria this spring, Foxwedge showed his class over a big weekend of racing producing Group performers at three successive meetings starting last Friday night at Moonee Valley where up and coming three year-old filly Villami ran a terrific race at her first outing away from Sydney.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
15th Stakes-Winner for Foxwedge
Talented Foxwedge mare Foxy Housewife has always threatened to win a Black Type race and the six year-old made the quantum leap at Wyong on Friday when taking out a hugely competitive $140,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.