A potential spring campaign in Sydney awaits class mare Volpe Veloce as she eases her way back to racing trim for the new season.
The 2018 Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m)
winner is currently in pre-training before returning to the stable of Matamata
trainer Graham Richardson for her six-year-old season.
Richardson, who is back to training on his own after his partnership with Gavin Parker ended on amicable terms, is looking forward to having his star pupil back in the fold as he prepares a mainly young team for 2019/20.
"Volpe Veloce is doing well in pretraining at JK Farm at present and I'm expecting she will be back with me in a fortnight or so," Richardson said.
"We are currently looking at the options we have for her and at present we are leaning to taking her to Sydney for the spring.
"There are so many options available to her over there, particularly in fillies and mares races, that I think that is where she will be best placed."
While Richardson is excited about the prospects for Volpe Veloce he also has a mix of established gallopers and raw material to work with over the coming months.
"I have a really nice crop of rising two-year-olds that we will work with in the new season so that is something I'm really looking forward to," he said.
"In particular I have a beautiful Epaulette filly that is coming up well, so she is one to watch out for.
"I've also got established gallopers like Tiptronic and La Mia Stella, who are just starting their spring preps, and I expect them to be firing in some of the better races later on."
Richardson is also excited to welcome well-known rider Rogan Norvall to the stable with an eye on a future training partnership if things work out.
"Rogan started with me a couple of weeks ago and has settled in really well," he said.
"It's great to have someone with his experience join us.
"Rogan is currently learning the ropes on how we operate but the long-term prospect is to form a training partnership in a season or two if it all works out." – NZ Racing Desk
