Volpe Veloce Takes Filly of the Year Series Lead

High-class filly Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) extended her unbeaten record to six out of six when she won the $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, taking the lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Ridden by Johnathan Parkes for Matamata trainer Graham Richardson, the bay filly was briefly in an awkward position down the back straight but settled into a smooth rhythm and moved into striking distance approaching the home turn.

Volpe Veloce made her move after straightening for home, sprinting to the front with a sharp turn of foot. Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel) fought back strongly on her inside, but Volpe Veloce asserted her superiority with a half-length win. Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) took third place.

"Once I got out she did the rest," Parkes said. "I think she's a filly that will definitely stay. She is very relaxed in her races."

Bought by Richardson for $240,000 at the 2015 Premier Sale, Volpe Veloce has won all six of her starts and prize-money of $153,750. She has now won three black-type races, having previously claimed the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old and a last-start success in the Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m).

Victories in the Eulogy Stakes and Eight Carat Classic have earned Volpe Veloce 14 points in the Filly of the Year Series, taking the lead from Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) who has 12.

Runner-up Storytime added 4 points to the 1.5 she picked up for running third in the Eulogy. Her 5.5 points have her in fourth place. Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Honey Rider (NZ) (Pins) is in third with 6 points.

The 2 points Date Night collected on Boxing Day were her first points in the Series.

The Series continues at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day with the Group 2 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (2000m). Volpe Veloce has been ruled out of that event.

“She definitely won’t back up in the Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day, we were never going to consider that,” Richardson said. “The main long-term goal for this season is the New Zealand Oaks.”