Star Kiwi Foxwedge Mare Primed for G2 Theo Marks

Media Release - Thursday September 12

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.

Volpe Veloce"She has won a stakes race at the age of two, three, four, and five, I hope she can do it at six as well," Richardson said.

The daughter of Foxwedge will head into Saturday's race fresh-up after just one trial in New Zealand and Richardson is pleased he made the decision to send the mare over to Australia nearly three weeks ago.

"She is going well. I sent her over a little bit early just to get her acclimatised to the Sydney weather," he said.

"She is turning in her coat, but she will definitely improve in her coat once she has had this run.

"She is pretty forward, she had that trial in New Zealand, she worked up well on Saturday and on Tuesday morning and just did pace work this (Thursday) morning."

Richardson was delighted with her 1100m trial at Taupo last month, where she finished runner-up to More Wonder, and he is looking forward to lining up his stable star on Saturday.

"It was an extremely good trial," he said. "She is just a little bit stronger. She has still got the tough attitude and is getting better.

"They are good horses (she will face on Saturday) and are world-class, so it's going to be interesting."

Volpe Veloce will jump from barrier four with Andrew Adkins aboard.

Advertisement

"I can't draw that well in New Zealand, I am chuffed to draw it over here," Richardson said.

All going well after Saturday Volpe Veloce will return to Rosehill later this month for the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) before her connections decide on further targets.

"We have decided that she will go to these two and then we will sort out another programme after that," Richardson.

Back across the Tasman, Richardson will contest the Northern Districts Security Ruakaka Cup (2200m) with Suliman.

The six-year-old son of Redwood is in fine form of late winning at Te Rapa in July before finishing runner-up over 2100m at the same track last month.

Richardson is pleased with Suliman and is eyeing a potential Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Cup (3200m) path for the gelding.

"He has worked up well," he said. "Ruakaka is a difficult track for horses having their first start there, but he is a go forward horse and hasn't got a lot of weight (54kg) on his back.

"It's a small but handy field, but he is well enough.

"We'll see how he goes on Saturday and then we will start looking towards the South Island." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Foxwedge Fillies Fly into Spring
Woodside Park’s new addition Foxwedge has a strong hand coming into this weekend with many of his star fillies and mares set to resume from winter spells on Saturday.
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.
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.
First foal for Cambridge Stud's Chaldean
The first Southern Hemisphere bred foal by Cambridge Stud stallion Chaldean (GB) has hit the ground with a filly foal out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note born at Pencarrow Stud.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 21
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Widden Parade Braves the Rain
Widden Stud’s annual series of stallion parades in the ‘Valley of Champions’ kicked off as scheduled on Thursday with the reigning Champion Australian Sire Zoustar the centre of attention, while the world’s fastest horse Cogburn (USA) also made his debut in Australia.
G1 York International Delivers Nail Biting Spectacle
Last year the Group I Juddmonte International (1m2 ½ f) at York produced a virtuoso performance from City of Troy (USA), who will be paraded at Coolmore Australia this Sunday and the overnight renewal of the race produced a Pride of Jenni like spectacle before the favourite Ombudsman prevailed to win.
Second Stakes-winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s champion son Palace Pier (GB) only shuttled for one season to Darley Australia with his first 2YO’s to race here this season and in Europe he’s doing a pretty good job with his second stakes-winner emerging overnight at York.
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.
Twain Chasing Family History
Twain will be out to replicate the deeds of his dam when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.