Foxwedge sired his first stakes winner when the Graham Richardson-trained filly Volpe Veloce stormed home in Saturday’s Castletown Stakes at Wanganui in New Zealand.
A smart winner by two and a quarter length when on debut at Matamata, Volpe Veloce missed the Listed Equine Stakes (1100m) at Te Rapa due to a stone bruise. She showed no ill effect of that in the Castletown Stakes.
Racing close to the pace under Johnathan Parkes, the daughter of Foxwedge proved a class above her nine opponents storming clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths from Honey Rider (Pins) to remain unbeaten.
“That was a big thrill, I’m shaking,” Richardson told The Informant. “I don’t want to get too carried away, I’d prefer just to let her do the talking, but I hope and I think she has a pretty big future.”
“A lot of loyal owners have stuck by me with this filly, so I’m absolutely chuffed for them and also for the horse herself. She’s a good filly. I think she’ll be even better on top of the ground.”
A 240,000 purchase out of the Lyndhurst Farm draft at the Karaka Premier Sale, Volpe Veloce is a half-sister to Listed Black Opal Stakes winner Delago Bolt.
Her dam Bardego (Barathea) won the Group III Blue Diamond Preview.
A full-brother to Volpe Veloce was purchased by Go Racing for $150,000 at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling sale.
Group 1 William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge is standing the 2016 breeding season at Newgate for a fee of $22,000 including GST.