Trish Dunell
Volpe Veloce will head south later this month to contest the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki after her luckless fourth-placing in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained mare ran home late from the back of the pack to pick up her minor placing and her connections were pleased with their charge’s efforts.
“She just got way too far back and had a bad draw,” Richardson said. “From last to run as close as she did was a massive effort. She needs a mile now.”
That mile test will come in the form of the Haunui Classic and Richardson said she has pulled up well after Saturday’s race, despite the tough run.
“She certainly ate well and she was stretching out well this morning,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to have knocked her around as much as I thought it might, because it was a hard run.
“All going well, that is where we will go, the Haunui Classic.
“I then really want to work back from the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes in April at Te Aroha. That is the perfect race for her.”