Fenway has fuelled Cox Plate ambitions with her win in the Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley.
A Group One winner of the Vinery Stud Stakes last season, Fenway turned in a strong display in a testing Group Two race for mares over 1600m on Friday night.
Fenway – Stocks Stakes 2015
Shannon Hope, who trains in partnership with his father Lee, said he would love to have a Cox Plate runner and is hopeful Fenway can get into the weight-for-age feature later this month.
“She’s a superstar,” Hope said.
“I’d love to have a Cox Plate runner. And she seems to handle the Valley.”
He said if he could have his way Fenway would go to the Cox Plate (2040m) at her next start.
“She won third-up over 2000 metres in the Vinery. I suppose we’ve got to see whether we get a run,” he said.
Fenway was ridden by Hope’s stepbrother Blake Shinn who also won the Group One Vinery in the autumn in Sydney.
Shinn said winning for his family was special.
“Winning that race in Sydney (on Fenway) was one of the biggest thrills, along with the Melbourne Cup, in my career,” Shinn said.
Vlad Duric took Amanpour to the front and made it a test from the 550m mark, stretching the small field out.
May’s Dream and Fenway kept in touch and turned for home challenging for the lead.
Fenway ($6.50) fought her way past May’s Dream to win by three-quarters of a length with a half-head to Scratchy Bottom third.
Shinn said the mare would be competitive in a Cox Plate if she gained a start in the race.
