Leading jockey Hugh Bowman has a third Vinery Stud Stakes win in five years in his sights aboard the favourite Foxplay in the Group One feature for fillies at Rosehill.
Bowman, who won the Vinery (2000m) on Norzita in 2013 and Lucia Valentina (2014), is upbeat about his chances of another on the Chris Waller-trained Foxplay who goes in off a last-start win in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).
Kerrin McEvoy rode Foxplay that day when Bowman was riding in Melbourne but he has had plenty to do with the filly and knows her well.
“She’s a lovely filly and she’s a real winner,” Bowman said.
Foxplay stormed home late to win the Phar Lap and Bowman doesn’t query the filly’s ability to handle a distance rise to 2000m for the first time on Saturday against her own age and sex on what will be testing ground.
“She’s got such a good attitude. She relaxes so well and has an excellent turn of foot,” Bowman said.
“And she will go on any conditions.”
Multiple Group Two winner Foxplay is at $3.40 and is one of two strong chances for Sydney’s leading trainer along with Dawn Wall ($5.50).
“Foxplay deserves a Group One and Dawn Wall is getting her first chance in a Group One,” Waller said.
Lightly raced Dawn Wall won a maiden at Canterbury at her second start last month before adding a win over 1800m at Rosehill and the Group Three Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).
“Dawn Wall is the up-and-comer and we haven’t really worked out what her right distance is yet or what level she’s going to get to,” Waller said.
Dawn Wall is untried on a heavy track which Waller said was a concern but he believes the 2000m should not be a problem for her.
“And she’s in that winning vein of form,” he said.
“Foxplay has won on a heavy track. She has won over 1500 metres but the start before that the rider got off and said she was looking for a mile.
“I don’t think as a three-year-old filly the 1500 to 2000 is much different.
“The negative about Foxplay in previous runs is she’s been getting out of her ground but I think over 2000 metres she’ll be able to sit handier which is a big plus.
“So there’s plenty of positives for both.”
By Mathew Toogood
SYDNEY, March 23 AAP