Foxwedge’s glamorous grey flagbearer Foxplay nearly did the unthinkable at Randwick on Saturday when going within a half neck of beating the mighty Winx in the Group II ATC Warwick Stakes.
The Chris Waller trained Foxplay and her famous stablemate were both resuming from a spell and while Winx blew the start to trail the field by four lengths from the gates, Foxplay took every opportunity that came her way.
She raced forward for Kerrin McEvoy from a good draw and kicked away down the running to open up what looked like a winning break.
On any other day, Foxplay would have won the 1400 metre weight-for-age contest, but you can never count out a champion and Winx rallied at the finish to defeat Foxplay by half a neck.
“Great run,” said Kerrin McEvoy.
“She’s shown there she’s come back in great order and she’s in for a great preparation.”
Bred by SF Bloodstock and foaled, raised and sold as a yearling by Newgate Farm, Group I winning Foxplay is the best runner to date for Newgate Farms’ foundation sire Foxwedge, the Champion Australian Second Season Sire for 2016/2017.