Chris Waller is mindful of the effect chasing Winx can have on horses and has been patient with Foxplay ahead of her second Melbourne race this weekend.
Foxplay stretched Winx twice in her first two races this preparation however, Waller said the first-up run in the Warwick Stakes on August 19 left its mark on the four-year-old.
"I saw the effect it had on Kermadec and Press Statement last year," Waller said. "They gave her (Winx) a real challenge in the George Ryder Stakes but were buggered for a week afterwards.
"Foxplay ran a fantastic race first-up. She left a bit of feed the first week after the run but maintained her weight and wasn't doing much.
"She just did light work for two weeks but couldn't have raced for at least three weeks - it definitely took it out of her."
Foxplay finished fourth in the Thousand Guineas last season in her first race in Melbourne and is an intended runner in Saturday's Group II Tristarc Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield.
Waller was at Flemington on Saturday morning to see the grey work on the inside grass, covering 1000m and cruising home the last 400m in 26.09 seconds.
"She's come out of her last start fourth in the Epsom in really good order," Waller said.
"The race on Saturday looks ideal for her heading towards the Myer Classic here at Flemington on November 4."
