Leading jockey Hugh Bowman has a third Vinery Stud Stakes win in five years in his sights aboard the favourite Foxplay in the Group One feature for fillies at Rosehill tomorrow.
Bowman, who won the 2000-metre Vinery on Norzita in 2013 and Lucia Valentina the following year, is upbeat about his chances of another on the Chris Waller-trained Foxplay who goes in off a last-start win in the Gr. 2 Phar Lap Stakes.
Kerrin McEvoy rode Foxplay that day when Bowman was riding in Melbourne, but he has had plenty to do with the filly and knows her well.
"She's a lovely filly and she's a real winner," Bowman said.
Foxplay stormed home late to win the Phar Lap and Bowman doesn't query the filly's ability to handle a distance rise to 2000 metres for the first time tomorrow against her own age and sex on what will be testing ground.
"She's got such a good attitude. She relaxes so well and has an excellent turn of foot," Bowman said. "And she will go on any conditions."
Multiple Group Two winner Foxplay is at $3.40 and is one of two strong chances for Sydney's leading trainer along with Dawn Wall ($5.50).
"Foxplay deserves a Group One and Dawn Wall is getting her first chance in a Group One," Waller said.
Lightly raced Dawn Wall won a maiden at Canterbury at her second start last month before adding a win over 1800 metres at Rosehill and the 1800-metre Gr. 3 Kembla Grange Classic.
"Dawn Wall is the up-and-comer and we haven't really worked out what her right distance is yet or what level she's going to get to," Waller said.
Dawn Wall is untried on a heavy track, which Waller said was a concern, but he believes the 2000 metrres should not be a problem for her.
"And she's in that winning vein of form," he said. "Foxplay has won on a heavy track. She has won over 1500 metres but the start before that the rider got off and said she was looking for a mile.
"I don't think as a three-year-old filly the 1500 to 2000 is much different.
"The negative about Foxplay in previous runs is she's been getting out of her ground but I think over 2000 metres she'll be able to sit handier which is a big plus.
"So there's plenty of positives for both."
