Foxplay ready to step out of Winx’s shadow

Foxplay will be without her best mate as she attempts to add another Group One victory to her record.

The mare is stabled next to champion Winx at trainer Chris Waller’s Rosehill stable and occupies the same position when the two are in Melbourne.

She tagged along with Winx to Moonee Valley last week when the mare completed her Cox Plate winning hat-trick.

Foxplay wasn’t there to race but soaked up the atmosphere before getting back on the float for the short trip back to home base at Flemington with her companion.

With Winx now taking a well-earned break, it’s Foxplay’s turn to step up for another Group One win when she runs in the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Foxplay is already a Group One winner, taking out the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick during the last Sydney autumn carnival under Kerrin McEvoy who takes the ride on Saturday.

The mare hasn’t yet recaptured her autumn winning form but did finish second to Winx first-up in the Warwick Stakes and was third to the great mare in the George Main Stakes at Randwick in September.

She followed up with a fourth placing in the Epsom Handicap before finishing seventh in the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield two weeks ago.

McEvoy said Foxplay would appreciate stepping up to 1600m on Saturday after finding the opposition too slick over 1400 last time.

“It was too firm for her at Caulfield the other day and she wobbled around the bend,” McEvoy said.

“Plus the 1400 metres was just a bit sharp for her but she stayed on well.

“A mile at Flemington with a little bit of juice in the ground is going to be perfect and at her best she’s going to be very hard to beat.

“But it’s a big field with many, many chances.”

The Myer Classic is an open betting race with first-up Tristarc winner Global Glamour and three-year-old filly Shoals sharing top billing at $5 ahead of Silent Sedition at $7.50 with Foxplay on the next line at $8.50.

Credit: AAP

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