Star Foxwedge Mare Headed for Brisbane

Media Release - Sunday April 29

Co-trainer Graham Richardson couldn't be happier as he gets set to send his star mare Volpe Veloce to Queensland later in the week.

Volpe VeloceThis season's Gr.1 Sistema Railway winner looked a picture of health as she tuned up for her upcoming Brisbane assignments with a gritty run for second under a 60kg impost at Te Rapa on Saturday.

It was the mare's first run since finishing midfield in the Gr.1 Telegraph at Trentham in late January and one that Richardson was keen to get under the mare's belt before she embarks on her trans-Tasman campaign.

"We had her pretty close to the mark on Saturday although she definitely needed the run before she gets on the plane to Brisbane," he said.

"It was a tough ask with 60kgs on her back, but I was delighted the way she hit the line behind a smart mare in Love Affair.

"We just got a little too far off the pace and had to angle out in the straight which cost her in the end. She tried hard and probably ran the quickest last 600m sectional so all in all I was happy with the run."

Co-trainer Gavin Parker will travel to Brisbane with the mare who will have her first start in the Gr.1 Darley Kingsford Smith Stakes (1300m), formerly known as the BTC Cup, at Eagle Farm on 26 May.

"We are going to try and space her races out, so she will have her first run in the Kingsford Smith Stakes on 26 May," said Richardson.

Advertisement

"We will nominate her for the Stradbroke on the 9th of June but might miss that in favour of the Winter Stakes, which is for the fillies and mares a week later. The Winter Stakes is the main aim, but we will keep our options open with her as you just don't know what can happen."

Formerly known as the Tatts Tiara, the Winter Stakes (1400m) is the final Group One event of the Queensland Winter Carnival, with Richardson looking forward to the chance to test his charge against some quality Australian opposition.

"It's been quite a few years since I was in Brisbane for the winter so I'm really looking forward to going back with a mare that we think is right up to the best of them," he said.

"Gavin is going across to be with her on a daily basis and I will pop across a few days before each race.

"It's going to be a massive challenge but one that we are going to give our best shot." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
G2 McEwen Stakes To Jigsaw - Fifth Black Type Victory
A previous Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley a few years back, Jigsaw’s connections would’ve headed into Saturday’s Group 2 MVRC McEwen Stakes (1200m) with a level of confidence despite tackling last start Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone.
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
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.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
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.
First Winner for Home Affairs
Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.
Soft Win for Foxwedge Mare
Quality Foxwedge mare Into the Abyss has been taking on tough Black Type races since resuming from a spell and dropped back to midweek grade at Warwick Farm on Monday was able to return to winning form with a powerful victory under 60kg.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).