Racing: Volpe Veloce seeks more Karaka cash

Group One winner Volpe Veloce returns to the scene of her biggest victory when she contests the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1200m) at Ellerslie tomorrow night.

The five-year-old mare has won 10 races from 20 starts, including four at the Auckland track and most significantly the 2018 Gr.1 Railway (1200m).

The Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker-trained mare has pleased her connections since her fourth-placing behind Santa Monica when defending her Railway title at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and confidence in the camp is high heading into the Group Two assignment.

"I think she is well placed, 1400m especially with 58kg on her back at set weights and penalties. She is only 3kgs above the minimum," Richardson said.

"Her work has been good and she has a good alley (barrier two) too so we are very happy with her. Michael Coleman galloped her on Tuesday and said she is pretty fit.

"We just want to make sure she gets out of those gates as she can be a bit tardy and you want to use that draw. If we are thereabouts I would be very happy."

Richardson has fond memories of Karaka Million night, having tasted success in 2017 when Volpe Veloce took out the Listed Karaka 3YO Mile (1600m).

"She won the Karaka 3YO mile a couple of years ago, it is as big of a thrill as you can get," he said. "It is a big crowd, it is a prestigious evening and it is the way of the future. I love going to those meetings."

If Volpe Veloce performs up to expectations tomorrow she will be set for another tilt at Group One glory in the BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa next month.

"All going well on Saturday night she will back up on the 9th (of February) at Te Rapa in the Weight For Age 1400m.

"That has been my number one goal for the whole year." Meanwhile, Richardson has another chance of gaining a black-type victory tomorrow when he lines-up Mahalo in the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m). The six-year-old daughter of Darci Brahma was runner-up behind race rival Spring Heat over 1200m at Matamata last start and her connections are hoping she can turn the tables tomorrow.

"She is a mare a couple of friends and myself own," Richardson said. "We bought her at the sales and she has won three and should have been in the first three in the Newmarket last year.

"She loves Ellerslie but she does have an ordinary draw (barrier 10) so I am not too sure where we are going to end up."

- NZ Racing Desk