Foxwedge Mare Back Better Than Ever

Media Release - Tuesday September 25

 

Group One winning mare Volpe Veloce stepped out at the Te Teko trials on Tuesday and was an impressive winner over 1010m.

 

The Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained mare is not far away from resuming and has benefited from a winter spent in Queensland.

 

"I'm very happy," Richardson said.

 

"She probably did a little bit more than what I wanted today, but Michael Coleman rode her and he is really pleased with her. She had a nice blow and she is where we want her."

 

The winner of 10 of her 17 starts, Volpe Veloce had a two-start winter campaign in Queensland where she finished sixth in the Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) and tenth in the Gr.1 Tattersalls Tiara (1350m), where she was beaten less than three lengths.Volpe Veloce

 

"She had a bit of a tough trip back from Brisbane to Sydney then over here, but she spelled very well at Caloundra," Richardson said.

 

"She has done well because of it. She is good in the coat and she has got a good middle to her now.

 

"As a three-year-old she always raced a little bit light, but now she really looks like she has come of age.

 

"She is really big and strong now. This is her year I think."

 

The Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner is likely to resume at Rotorua on October 20 in the Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) before Richardson and Parker make longer term plans.

 

"She will run at Rotorua and then we will make a plan as to what direction we take," Richardson said.

 

Richardson said he was contemplating running the five-year-old daughter of Foxwedge in blinkers first-up, and he feels that 1400m to a mile will be more suitable this term.

 

"I like the thought of the Railway again, you've obviously got the Telegraph, but instead of the Telegraph maybe we will look at the BCD Group Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) at Te Rapa," he said.

 

"She's got a big action and I think she will be even better up to a mile this preparation, but we will see."

 

Although Jake Bayliss was aboard Volpe Veloce when successful in the Railway Stakes earlier this year, Michael Coleman has been confirmed as Volpe Veloce's rider this campaign.

 

"Jake did a fantastic job, but the owners have made the decision," Richardson said. "They're both very good riders."

 

Meanwhile, Richardson is pleased with some of the younger members of his team that are likely to step out over the coming weeks.

 

"I've got some really nice young horses. I've got a few going around on Wednesday at Matamata including four three-year-olds that will run in maiden 1400s that I like.

 

"I also have another Foxwedge filly called Ana Zorra that shows promise and she will run at Taupo on October 10, so the team is coming along nicely." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Catalogue Online for the Southern Hemisphere Session of the Tattersalls Online December Sale
The catalogue of initial entries for the Southern Hemisphere Session, an innovative collaboration between Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital, has now been published on the Tattersalls Online website.
Pencarrow Blueblood Filly Wins Again
Royally bred filly Sesimbra made it back to back victories to open her three-year-old campaign when she took out the opening event at Wanganui, the Wanganui Function Centre 3YO (1200m) in dramatic fashion.
Star Foxwedge Mare Chasing Another G1 Before Retirement
Volpe Veloce gave trainer Graham Richardson one of his biggest moments in racing when she won the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) two years ago and he is hoping to finish her career on a similar high.
Impressive Debut Win for Churchill 3YO
Just days after Churchill (IRE) sired the second highest priced horse sold at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale when his colt from Bagitol fetched $775,000, a talented three year-old bought from the same sale last year kicked off his career with a super impressive debut win.
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.
Top Sellers at Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale
The Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale had plenty of drama when the dam of Goliath, who runs in the Japan Cup on Sunday, was passed in at €5miliion, but there were other high profile sales including Fastnet Rock's Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
One to Watch – Moonee Valley
This promising three year-old Cosmic Force filly made it wo wins in as many starts at Moonee Valley on Friday night with a tenacious display.
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.
Stakes-Winning Debut for $1.3million Snitzel Colt
Exciting Snitzel colt Return To Conquer headed into his raceday debut in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) with a big price tag, big reputation and big expectations, and the million-dollar colt produced a Pukekohe performance worthy of the hype.
Luberon Keeps Winning Run Going for Cambridge Stud
Quality mare Luberon put a classy field of sprinters to the sword at Pukekohe on Saturday when she dashed away in the closing stages to score a handsome victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).