Home Group One top priority
A spring trip to Melbourne has been ruled out for Volpe Veloce with domestic Group One success the sole focus of her upcoming campaign.
The Foxwedge filly enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old campaign with five wins from six appearances, including the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic, the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes and the Listed Karaka Mile.
Completing the full black type set will now be trainers Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker’s top priority.
‘‘She is a very, very good filly and we want to concentrate on winning a Group One here and then we may look at Sydney in the autumn,’’ Richardson said.
Volpe Veloce will resume in an open 1200m handicap at Te Rapa on August 5 as her lead in to the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings.
‘‘The Foxbridge Plate is too close to Hawke’s Bay and this way there is three weeks between runs,’’ Richardson said.
‘‘All going well, she will go back for the Windsor Park Plate and then we’ll be looking at races like the Captain Cook Stakes and the Telegraph.’’
Volpe Veloce hasn’t raced since she finished fourth, her first defeat, in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic.
‘‘We gave her a decent holiday and she’s really strengthened up, we’re very happy with her,’’ Richardson said.
To further her preparation, Volpe Veloce travelled to Taupo on Wednesday for a gallop.
‘‘The track was between dead and slow, which was ideal,’’ Richardson said.