Class mare Volpe Veloce maintained her unbeaten record at Tauranga when she cruised to victory in the Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m) yesterday.
The five-year-old Foxwedge mare looked all at sea in her most recent start when finishing well back in the Haunui Farm WFAGroup 1 Classic (1600m) at Otaki on a Slow8 track, but back to the Dead4 surface at Tauranga, she showed just what she is capable of in stunning fashion.
Settled well back off a solid speed set by The Mitigator, rider Michael McNab had plenty of horseflesh in front of him with 600m to run.
McNab didn't panic as he eased Volpe Veloce to the outside and sent his mount forward.
Turning for home, Australian visitor Endless Drama had shot to the front and looked hard to catch before Volpe Veloce hit top gear at the 300m mark. She gobbled up Endless Drama in the space of two or three huge bounds before easing to the line to score comfortably from Watch This Space, who dashed home late along the rail after being held up approaching the home turn.
Co-trainer Graham Richardson, who prepares the mare along with Gavin Parker, was relieved to see his stable star bounce back to winning form after some frustrations in her last two starts at Group 1 level.
"She's a great chaser and everything panned out this time," Richardson said.
"He [McNab] didn't panic, and to be honest, that's half the battle as well with her.
"It was a good effort and I'm just chuffed for her and all the owners."
Richardson also confirmed that Volpe Veloce would now have another tilt at Group 1 level in the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 6.
"She will be at Te Aroha in two weeks," he said.
"She's been unlucky, hence why we got over a mile [lately], as she just lacks that early speed, but what a run [yesterday]."
A $240,000 purchase by Richardson from the 2014 National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Volpe Veloce has now won all three of her Tauranga runs and takes her career record to 12 wins from 24 starts and $639,000 in stakes earnings.
