Volpe Veloce wins Group Two Japan New Zealand International Trophy at Tauranga (Race Images, Kenton Wright)
The evergreen Volpe Veloce has continued the tremendous run of success by Australian-breds in New Zealand this year with a decisive victory in Saturday’s Group Two Japan New Zealand International Trophy over 1600m at Tauranga.
It was the 12th career victory and seventh black type success for the 5YO Foxwedge mare who had earlier won the Group One Railway Stakes, Group Two Eight Classic and, somewhat fittingly on Australia Day this year, the Group Two Westbury Classic.
Volpe Veloce will next start in the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes over 1600m at Te Aroha on Saturday week and is poised to join fellow Australian-breds – Crown Prosecutor (New Zealand Derby) and Enzo’s Lad (Telegraph Handicap) – as 2019 Group One winners in New Zealand.
(Danzdanzdance, third in the Group One Ranvet at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, also won the Group One Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day).
Volpe Veloce is from the Barathea mare, Bardego, who has had quite the journey herself and is currently ensconced at David and Kayley Johnson’s Rushton Park in Victoria.
Bred by Tyreel Stud, Bardego was sold to the Corstens training operation for $45,000 at the 2001 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale and would go on to win her first two starts, including the Group Three Blue Diamond Preview.
Unfortunately, the filly had “knee issues” and was retired to stud by owner/breeder Phil Sly after five unsuccessful runs as a 3YO.
Bardego had a fairly inauspicious start to her breeding career, missing to Snowland and having her Belong To Me foal die, while her first runner – Syzygy – could, at best, manage a second in a Mackay Maiden in Queensland.
However, all was forgiven with her second runner, Delago Bolt, who captured the Black Opal at two, ran a little over a length behind Black Caviar when fourth in the Group Two Danehill and finished his career with five wins and nine placings for $612,575 in stakes.
Bardego’s next four foals failed to rise to similar occasions however and the mare was sold to Nick Vass Bloodstock for $57,500 at the 2011 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
The second foal for Vass? Volpe Veloce.
However, by the time Volpe Veloce had arrived on the scene, Bardego had been onsold to Randwick Bloodstock Agency on behalf of Rushton Park at the 2015 Magic Millions National Brodmare Sale.
The first Bardego foal for Rushton Park, a full sister to Volpe Veloce called Zorro Rapido, was purchased by Sheamus Mills for $300,000 at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, while a follow up – a filly by Helmet – would make $200,000 at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. The now 2YO, Silk Jacket, is with Matt Cumani and “progressing nicely”.
“She (Bardego) has been a terrific mare,” Rushton Park’s Kayley Johnson points out. “Unfortunately, she didn’t get in foal the year after foaling the Helmet filly, but produced a lovely Holler filly last November. She then missed on a late cover to Impending but she’ll probably end up going to Brazen Beau this spring.”
Volpe Veloce’s continued success is likewise a boon for Victoria’s Woodside Park which, earlier this year, secured Foxwedge for stud duties this spring.
Since the announcement, Foxwedge’s progeny have won nearly 60 races including the Group Two Guy Walter and Group Three Triscay with Alassio, along with stakes placings to Dyslexic, Charleise, Freddie Fox Trot and Big Alloy.
“There’s been plenty of interest in Foxwedge and he’ll cover some nice mares in Victoria,” Woodside Park’s James Price enthused.
Woodside – whose stallion lineup this year will include Written Tycoon, Rich Enuff, Cable Bay and Tosen Stardom – is set to announce its fees at Easter, with Price assuring broodmare owners that Foxwedge’s fee will be “competitive”.
HOOFNOTE: John Jeffs, the much loved ‘meet and greet’ for stud farms at major yearling sales, was front man for Tyreel Stud when Bardego was sold as a yearling in 2001 and, 16 years later, directing inspections for Rushton Park when Volpe Veloce’s full sister (Zorro Rapido) was knocked down to Ciaron Maher for $300,000.
