Chris Waller believes he could have a replica of Foxplay on his hands after fellow three-year-old filly Noire broke her duck with an impressive win at Canterbury.
The champion trainer said Noire displayed the same characteristics as Foxplay, a Group One winner at her last start in the Queen of the Turf Stakes at Randwick on April 8.
“Foxplay was an unassuming filly who just got better and better and this one is in pretty much the same mould,” Waller said.
“They’re not overly big horses but they keep improving every time you ask them to.
“They’re not picture perfect, but they’ve got big hearts.”
Noire who jumped at $3.50 with WilliamHill finished strongly to claim the Vinery Plate (1100m) maiden on Wednesday.
Noire, second in her two previous starts at Newcatle and Canterbury, swept to the lead with 50m remaining under Kerrin McEvoy and scored by three-quarters of a length from Dream I Can ($21).
Foxplay and Noire share the same sire, Foxwedge, and Waller hopes the first-time winner can reach the same level.
“I think she’ll improve once she gets over a bit further. It was a bit of a risk running her over 1100 metres but the good solid tempo up front helped,” he said.
James Cummings also predicted a bright future for three-year-old filly Savvan after she notched the second win of her seven-race career in the benchmark 67 Ranvet Handicap (1500m).
Savvan ($3.70 fav) proved too strong for more mature rivals as she hit the post half a head clear of Speed Hero ($5). Sahara Eagle was another 3-1/4 lengths third.
“It’s impressive she could beat the older horses, to be doing that is a good sign,” Cummings said.
“We’ll put a little but more work into her and she might even find herself in a Gold Coast Bracelet (May 6) third-up.
“She’s built like a colt. There’s plenty of substance about her. Hopefully she can build on the record she produced when she went down to Caulfield in the spring and ran well,.”
Cummings said the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 3 was a target.
“She’s a very willing horse, very giving. She’s going the right way isn’t she?” he said.
