With record VOBIS bonuses and successful new initiatives such as the $1million Showdown
race for Victorian sired two year-olds, the Victorian stallion ranks have become
very competitive and while Written Tycoon ($110,000 fee) stands head and shoulders
above the pack followed by young gun Brazen Beau ($49,500), the middle market
below that takes some deciphering to find real value.New to Woodside Park Stud this year, proven sire Foxwedge fits the bill for value as a well proven source of winners and stakes-winners headed by an impressive three Group I winners in Foxplay, Volpe Veloce and Urban Fox.
With his oldest progeny just five year-olds, Foxwedge has produced 41 stakes horses in both hemispheres and this season in Australia has sired 90 winners of nearly $5million in prizemoney.
Those winners this season include classy Group II winning mares Noire and Alassio as well as stakes-winner Stella Victoria, while classy Group III placed three year-old filly Into the Abyss looms as an almost certain stakes-winner for the season ahead.
Astute trainer Gerald Ryan has always had a huge wrap on two year-old filly
Villami, who was the most expensive yearling by Foxwedge sold in 2018 when
fetching $425,000 at the Magic Millions.She won brilliantly on debut at Rosehill in February, before struggling on the heavy ground in the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes and then bounced back to finish a close third in the $1million Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Anaheed.
Villami is the sort of filly with type, talent and pedigree that could see her go a very long way in the season ahead.
Foxwedge featured in South Africa last weekend when Australian bred Infamous Fox won his second Black Type race and he's not the only good one in the region for his sire.
One star Foxwedge filly we may have missed out on in Australia is
undefeated Run Fox Run, who has raced up a storm in South Africa this season
winning all four of her starts to date including the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes
at Kenilworth.A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for South African trainer Brett Crawford, three year-old Run Fox Run is one of the most promising sprinters in South Africa.
A refined, good looking son of Fastnet Rock, Foxwedge was an expensive yearling himself bought for $925,000 at Inglis Easter in 2010.
Good looks, an even temperament and natural ability translated into Group I success on the track.
For those who may have forgotten, Foxwedge raced in a great era of truly world class sprinters and was fourth to Black Caviar, Hay List and Buffering in the Group I VRC Lightning Stakes, third in the Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap to Hay List and Buffering and then defeated that mighty duo when winning the Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes at WFA.
Foxwedge has imparted his brilliance and quality to his offspring
to carve out a highly successful career at stud that is about to move into a
new phase.
Foxwedge was the Champion Second Season Sire in 2016/2017 and as a result covered a strong book of mares that spring meaning he has a terrific crop of 110 weanlings in the pipeline.
Foxwedge was the Champion Second Season Sire in 2016/2017 and as a result covered a strong book of mares that spring meaning he has a terrific crop of 110 weanlings in the pipeline.
Priced at $16,500 this spring, Foxwedge is not only a proven Group I sire, but a sire with considerable upside as by the time breeders are selling yearlings bred this year, those weanlings will be three year-olds and it's not hard to think this stellar crop can deliver further Group I success.
"We drove Henry Field mad for six months get Foxwedge," said new owner Eddie Hirsch.
"He is a proven sire, ideally suited to Victoria and the VOBIS Scheme. I am sending at least half a dozen of my better mares to him."
Foxwedge stands at Woodside Park Stud, click here for more details.
