Fresh Eyes Find Value

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 9
A change of scene can put a new perspective on a sire and the Smart Missile example has been lost on nobody, which is why we're looking with fresh eyes on this stallion, who packed his bags and departed the Hunter Valley earlier this year.

Foxwedge is the sire of 41 stakes horsesWith record VOBIS bonuses and successful new initiatives such as the $1million Showdown race for Victorian sired two year-olds, the Victorian stallion ranks have become very competitive and while Written Tycoon ($110,000 fee) stands head and shoulders above the pack followed by young gun Brazen Beau ($49,500), the middle market below that takes some deciphering to find real value.

New to Woodside Park Stud this year, proven sire Foxwedge fits the bill for value as a well proven source of winners and stakes-winners headed by an impressive three Group I winners in Foxplay, Volpe Veloce and Urban Fox.

With his oldest progeny just five year-olds, Foxwedge has produced 41 stakes horses in both hemispheres and this season in Australia has sired 90 winners of nearly $5million in prizemoney.

Those winners this season include classy Group II winning mares Noire and Alassio as well as stakes-winner Stella Victoria, while classy Group III placed three year-old filly Into the Abyss looms as an almost certain stakes-winner for the season ahead.

G2 winner Noire has won over $500,000 in prizemoneyAstute trainer Gerald Ryan has always had a huge wrap on two year-old filly Villami, who was the most expensive yearling by Foxwedge sold in 2018 when fetching $425,000 at the Magic Millions.

She won brilliantly on debut at Rosehill in February, before struggling on the heavy ground in the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes and then bounced back to finish a close third in the $1million Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Anaheed.

Villami is the sort of filly with type, talent and pedigree that could see her go a very long way in the season ahead.

Foxwedge featured in South Africa last weekend when Australian bred Infamous Fox won his second Black Type race and he's not the only good one in the region for his sire. 


Undefeated 3YO filly Run Fox Run is a rising star sprinter in South AfricaOne star Foxwedge filly we may have missed out on in Australia is undefeated Run Fox Run, who has raced up a storm in South Africa this season winning all four of her starts to date including the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes at Kenilworth.

A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for South African trainer Brett Crawford, three year-old Run Fox Run is one of the most promising sprinters in South Africa.

A refined, good looking son of Fastnet Rock, Foxwedge was an expensive yearling himself bought for $925,000 at Inglis Easter in 2010.

Good looks, an even temperament and natural ability translated into Group I success on the track.


For those who may have forgotten, Foxwedge raced in a great era of truly world class sprinters and was fourth to Black Caviar, Hay List and Buffering in the Group I VRC Lightning Stakes, third in the Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap to Hay List and Buffering and then defeated that mighty duo when winning the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes at WFA.


Foxwedge has imparted his brilliance and quality to his offspring to carve out a highly successful career at stud that is about to move into a new phase.

Foxwedge was the Champion Second Season Sire in 2016/2017 and as a result covered a strong book of mares that spring meaning he has a terrific crop of 110 weanlings in the pipeline.




Priced at $16,500 this spring, Foxwedge is not only a proven Group I sire, but a sire with considerable upside as by the time breeders are selling yearlings bred this year, those weanlings will be three year-olds and it's not hard to think this stellar crop can deliver further Group I success.

"We drove Henry Field mad for six months get Foxwedge," said new owner Eddie Hirsch.

"He is a proven sire, ideally suited to Victoria and the VOBIS Scheme. I am sending at least half a dozen of my better mares to him."

Foxwedge stands at Woodside Park Stud, click here for more details.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Little Avondale’s Weanlings Follow Successful Footsteps
Graduates of Little Avondale Stud’s drafts at the NZB National Weanling Sale have a proud record of racetrack success, and stud principal Sam Williams believes his class of 2025 compares favourably with previous years.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Verry Exciting Weekend Looms
New Zealand horseman Nicholas Bishara will cross the Tasman this weekend to watch his filly Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister to his ill-fated 11-time Group One Verry Elleegant, contest the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Expensive Ghaiyyath Colt Wins Stakes
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) had his first Australian winner earlier this week and overnight produced a new stakes-winner in the UK where Godolphin owned colt Opera Ballo won the Listed Heron Stakes (1m)at Sandown.
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
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.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Derby
It’s been 15 years since Dariana thumped the colts to win the Queensland Derby (2400m) in 2010 and maybe it’s time for another filly to triumph!
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.
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.
King’s Legacy Filly Wins by Three
The Lindsay Park team produced an impressive juvenile winner at Pakenham on Thursday evening with King’s Legacy filly Bella Pietra winning as she pleased.