Winning Return for Foxwedge

Talented colt Foxwedge (3c Fastnet Rock x Forest Native, by Forest Native) posted his first Black Type success when turning in a stylish effort to win the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes over 1100 metres at Rosehill, scoring by half a length from slick fillies Anise and Karuta Queen. The John O’Shea trained son of Fastnet Rock was resuming from a spell of 19 weeks, having been sent straight to the paddock after a seventh place finish in the Golden Slipper after which he pulled up lame. Primed for his return with two recent barrier trial wins, Foxwedge stalked the leaders for Nash Rawiller and when asked to accelerate in the straight, did so with a minimum of fuss to put the issue beyond doubt. “He travelled beautifully and let down good. He’s still a bit green, he wobbled a few times and got a bit unbalanced but it’s a nice start to his preparation,” O’Shea said. "He was probably entitled to knock up a bit late.” Rawiller said Foxwedge has a tendency to "do all that is needed” and the win was full of merit. "He’s a very good horse,” Rawiller said. "He got to them pretty easy and he’s the sort of horse that if you let him think game is over he switches straight off so I kept his mind on the job. "He would have found more if something came at him.” Foxwedge is now heading towards a clash with the likes of Smart Missile (3c Fastnet Rock x Comical Smile, by Comic Strip) and Helmet in the Group I Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10 after his next run in the Group III Run To The Rose (1200m) in two weeks’ time. A $925,000 purchase for bloodstock agent James Harron, formerly of De Burgh Equine, from the Luskin Park draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Foxwedge was the most expensivce yearling by his sire at that sale and has now won three of five starts and $297,000 in prizemoney. He is the 18th stakes-winner for Fastnet Rock and is the first stakes-winner for his dam Forest Native (USA), a stakes-placed daughter of Forest Wildcat from the family of US Group III winner Count the Time. Forest Native has a two year-old full sister to Foxwedge that made $600,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year and has a yearling full sister to come.