Progressive Foxwedge filly Fox Swift had her first taste of stakes company in Saturday’s $120,000 Listed VRC Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) and passed the test in style.
With the in-form Mark Zahra in the saddle, Fox Swift raced handy to the lead before striking the front 300 metres out.
She went to the line strongly to defeat the fast-finishing South Australian raider Split Lip by a short-neck.
Making her fifth race start, the Ciaron Maher-trained filly broke her maiden with a three and a quarter length romp at Moe on August 5 and was a last start second at Sandown.
“She’s a very honest little filly and full credit to the team they kept her up and as you can see she’s carrying a fair bit of winter coat,” Maher said
“Credit to the owners they have backed the stable and let us do what we want and it’s a great result today.
“Great ride by Mark Zahra, he just found a bit of nice cover from the wind and presented her at the right time.
“She’s a very adaptable filly easy to ride and easy to train, she could get out to 1400 (metres) but it’s great to get that elusive black-type today.”
Purchased by Moody Racing for $80,000 from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Fox Swift is the first foal of the Sydney winning Starcraft mare Runway Runaway.
A half-sister to Listed stakes winner and Group II placed mare White Sage, Runway Runaway is a daughter of the Champion 3YO Sprinter in NZ in 2003-04, Pay My Bail a half-sister to the dam of Wellington Cup winner Megapins.
Runway Runaway has a yearling filly to follow by Foxwedge.
Fox Swift becomes the sixth stakes winner for Newgate Farm’s foundation stallion Foxwedge, who also sired Foxplay to finish a brave third in the Group I ATC George Main Stakes to Winx and Albumin to finish third in the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes.
The Champion Australian Second Crop Sire last season, Foxwedge is currently covering his sixth book of mares at a fee of $22,000.