Foxplay to run in Apollo Stakes

Group One winner Foxplay will make her return in the Apollo Stakes, but only because her stablemate Winx is not.

Foxplay is Winx’s next door neighbour and best mate at the Chris Waller stable but the trainer admits he doesn’t want them to run against each other again any time soon.

Winx caught Foxplay in the final 50 metres of the Warwick Stakes in the spring after missing the start and looking beaten.

“I wasn’t going to run Foxplay in the Apollo but now that Winx isn’t there she will run,” Waller said.

“She thought she had won the Warwick Stakes – until she got home.”

Instead of Saturday’s Group Two Apollo Stakes (1400m), Winx will run in a special event at Randwick in a trial against stablemates Who Shot Thebarman, Libran, Mackintosh and McCreery over 1200 metres.

Her return was rescheduled when Hugh Bowman was suspended but the jockey will be aboard in the trial which will mimic race conditions.

Waller will also have Comin’ Through and Endless Drama in the Apollo.

Foxplay, who ran third to Winx in the George Main Stakes after the Warwick Stakes, will be aimed at a defence of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes in April.

Waller said there were no problems altering Winx’s program with the mare to resume over 1600 metres in the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes on March 3 when Bowman can ride.

He fielded plenty of interest from other jockeys but connections decided to miss one run and wait for Bowman.

Waller was inducted into New Zealand’s Racing Hall of Fame on Friday night with fellow trainer Murray Baker and retired jockey Noel Harris among the others to be honoured.

Harris rode Waller’s first winner, Go Morgan, at Trentham in 1997 and hinted he could come out of retirement if he was needed.

“Noel said he would make a comeback if we ever needed a rider for Winx,” Waller said.