Volpe Veloce
Kenton Wright Race Images
Graham Richardson has no real confidence that exciting filly Volpe Veloce will handle a heavy track in Saturday's Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes at Wanganui but he knows she has the class to win if she does.
The Matamata trainer is keen to give the Foxwedge filly her opportunity at stakes level as a two-year-old before she is turned out to prepare for three-year-old fillies races in the spring.
An impressive 2 1/2-length debut winner at Matamata in March, Volpe Veloce has handled wet tracks to Richardson's satisfaction in training but he admits he doesn't really know what to expect on raceday.
"Her work has been first-class and that's been on heavy tracks," Richardson said.
"But it's only when you let their heads go that you really find out. She'll handle it to a degree but it's just how the others handle it and whether they handle it better.
"We've got an ideal draw, a good rider on that knows the track and she's done well."
Wanganui jockey Johnathan Parkes takes the ride on Volpe Veloce, with Craig Grylls opting to ride at Ellerslie on Saturday, and gets a favourable barrier five starting position.
Volpe Veloce had been earmarked for a start in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes at Te Rapa last month but was forced to miss that race with a stone bruise.
"She's over that now thankfully and she's really well in herself. She's a pretty good filly we think," Richardson said.
"She'll have this race on Saturday and then go out and target the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings in the spring. We probably look to the South Island with her after that."
A Volpe Veloce win on Saturday would continue a white-hot run for the Richardson stable, which has produced five winners in the last fortnight through Eprouvez and Los Vargas at Te Rapa on May 21 and the trio of Quantum Maelstrom, Wildflower and Good Lookin' Gal at Matamata on Wednesday.
While the majority of Richardson's team are youngsters preparing for the new season, the Matamata trainer does have Queens Rose ticking over towards her next target of the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic later this month. - NZ Racing Desk
The Matamata trainer is keen to give the Foxwedge filly her opportunity at stakes level as a two-year-old before she is turned out to prepare for three-year-old fillies races in the spring.
An impressive 2 1/2-length debut winner at Matamata in March, Volpe Veloce has handled wet tracks to Richardson's satisfaction in training but he admits he doesn't really know what to expect on raceday.
"Her work has been first-class and that's been on heavy tracks," Richardson said.
"But it's only when you let their heads go that you really find out. She'll handle it to a degree but it's just how the others handle it and whether they handle it better.
"We've got an ideal draw, a good rider on that knows the track and she's done well."
Wanganui jockey Johnathan Parkes takes the ride on Volpe Veloce, with Craig Grylls opting to ride at Ellerslie on Saturday, and gets a favourable barrier five starting position.
Volpe Veloce had been earmarked for a start in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes at Te Rapa last month but was forced to miss that race with a stone bruise.
"She's over that now thankfully and she's really well in herself. She's a pretty good filly we think," Richardson said.
"She'll have this race on Saturday and then go out and target the Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings in the spring. We probably look to the South Island with her after that."
A Volpe Veloce win on Saturday would continue a white-hot run for the Richardson stable, which has produced five winners in the last fortnight through Eprouvez and Los Vargas at Te Rapa on May 21 and the trio of Quantum Maelstrom, Wildflower and Good Lookin' Gal at Matamata on Wednesday.
While the majority of Richardson's team are youngsters preparing for the new season, the Matamata trainer does have Queens Rose ticking over towards her next target of the Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic later this month. - NZ Racing Desk