New Zealand Group One winner Volpe Veloce has been given every chance to settle into Sydney before her Rosehill debut in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes.
Her trainer Graham Richardson is under no illusions about the class of the field she faces on Saturday but is happy with the mare.
“She has won a stakes race at the age of two, three, four, and five, I hope she can do it at six as well,” Richardson said.
Volpe Veloce, winner of the 2018 Railway Stakes, heads to the 1300m-race fresh after one trial in New Zealand and Richardson is pleased he made the decision to send her to Australia nearly three weeks ago.
“She is going well. I sent her over a little bit early just to get her acclimatised to the Sydney weather,” he told NZ Racing Desk.
“She is turning in her coat, but she will definitely improve in her coat once she has had this run.
“She is pretty forward. She had that trial in New Zealand, she worked up well on Saturday and on Tuesday morning and just did pace work on Thursday morning.”
Richardson was delighted with her 1100m trial at Taupo last month, when she finished runner-up to More Wonder.
“It was an extremely good trial,” he said. “She is just a little bit stronger. She has still got the tough attitude and is getting better.
“They are good horses and are world-class, so it’s going to be interesting.”
Volpe Veloce will jump from barrier four with Andrew Adkins aboard.
“I can’t draw that well in New Zealand. I am chuffed to draw it over here,” Richardson said.
All going well after Saturday Volpe Veloce will return to Rosehill later this month for the Group Two Golden Pendant (1400m) before her connections decide on her next option.
