Foxplay to take winning Spring form into Light Fingers Stakes

Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller is expecting a stronger Foxplay to take her winning Spring form into the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Foxplay, above, is resumig in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Foxplay, above, is resumig in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Foxplay was crowned the Princess Series winner during the 2016 Sydney Spring Carnival with victories in the Group 2 $175,000 Fitzy & Wippa’s Fast & Furious Stakes (1200m) and in the Group 2 $175,000 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) both at Randwick.

The Foxwedge filly then wrapped up her Spring campaign with a fourth to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Global Glamour in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.

“She made a name for self in the Spring winning a similar race. In fact two Group 2 races and she was crowned the Princess Series winner through the Spring,” Waller said.

Foxplay will be matched up against Global Glamour again in the Light Fingers Stakes but Waller expects his filly to be hard to beat after having strengthened up considerably during her time off in the paddock.

“Really good field but she should be hard to beat,” Waller said.

“She has come back stronger, about 10kg heavier than where she was at last preparation but is simply because she has strengthened.”

The prospect of a rain affected track won’t hinder the chances of Foxplay who has won on both heavy and soft rated tracks and the filly has drawn well at barrier three in the fourteen horse field with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

“Hugh Bowman, gate three. Doesn’t mind the track conditions and she is good first up,” Waller said.

Global Glamour was the star filly of the 2016 Spring Carnival with wins in the Group 1 $500,000 Sydney Airport Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and in the Thousand Guineas but was winless at two starts over the Summer with an unlucky ninth in $100,000 Nudgee Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm followed by a second to $101 outsider Flying Jess in the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.

Waterhouse is her usual confident self about the chances of Global Glamour in the Light Fingers Stakes and said that she has progressed nicely since her second in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.

“Global Glamour has come through her Magic Millions campaign in great order and is continuing to impress everyone who rides her,” Waterhouse said.

Global Glamour has Josh Parr in the saddle and has drawn awkwardly at barrier twelve but still heads the betting on Friday morning for the Light Fingers Stakes at $3.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Spright at $4.80, Foxplay at $6 and Honesty Prevails at $6.50.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.