Foxplay powers away in G2 win

On the day where Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman were supposed to take centre stage with Winx, Foxplay’s Furious Stakes win has eased their frustrations.

Waller scratched Winx from the Chelmsford Stakes on Saturday morning due to the heavy Randwick track.

The jockey-trainer combination then teamed up for High Mist’s unlucky second in the Ming Dynasty Quality and had two other seconds after So Willie was the unplaced favourite in Saturday’s opening race.

Foxplay was able to stem the tide as she kicked away to win the Group Two Furious, putting herself in the frame for the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick on October 1.

Sent out an $8.50 chance, Foxplay swept past leader Bacarella ($14) while Global Glamour, the $5 equal favourite, was strong late to finish third.

“To reel in the leader I thought was a very big effort,” Waller said.

Waller is yet to make a decision on when the stable’s star three-year-old filly Omei Sword will race next, but says Foxplay is heading for the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on September 17.

“It always helps when you’ve got good chances and you’ve got a bit of depth to your stable,” Waller said.

“Will Omei Sword beat Foxplay? All those things you take into consideration.”

The TAB shortened Foxplay from $31 to $15 for the Thousand Guineas, while Global Glamour firmed from $21 to $15.

Bowman said he was confident Foxplay’s determination would help her as she stepped up in class.

“I got a nice run from the draw and she showed her tenacious qualities over the last 100 metres,” Bowman said.

Waller’s other runner Awoke finished ninth, with jockey Brenton Avdulla questioning whether she handled the wet track.