Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (Group 2) Review

The Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (WFA, Group 2) is often the launching pad for many of New Zealand’s elite gallopers into spring Group 1 features. The race has been won by some of NZ’s best gallopers with Imperatriz, Avantage and Melody Belle on the recent honour roll.

Favourable weather through the week produced a very good surface for this year’s renewal, officially a Soft 6. Track manager Bart Cowan and his team do an excellent job with the Te Rapa track. The track played very fair and even throughout the day with no discernible track bias.

This race invariably presents a challenge in analysis and re-ratings with horses at varying stages of their preparation. Invariably a crossover of hard-fit, winter campaigners and elite racehorses returning, understandably, with improvement to come.

It was a very revealing paddock parade.

Alabama Lass paraded almost perfect – lovely and relaxed, and forward, fitness-wise. Some improvement to come in her coat as the weather improves. She didn’t disappoint on the track aided by a well-judged ride.

Media World was glowing – immaculately presented – as often can be the case with an entire. But he was also fit. He has been significantly advantaged by race shape – sitting outside gentle tempo. We have him running a career-best consequently. His mixed Australian form/rating does unfortunately put a ceiling on the international rating of the race. A recurring theme of Australian visitors in last 12 months.

Media World’s NZ rating moves to 98, technically 2kgs behind Alabama Lass (106), when accounting for F&M allowance.

Defending champion Sterling Express came into the race off a different preparation this year, returning here in a fresh state. He paraded well, but with obvious improvement to come. A Group1 could well be within in his reach this season and would be deserved. An under-estimated, high-quality racehorse.

Affirmative Action was a challenging reassessment. He could in some racing jurisdictions have been in line for a significant re-rating, given his placing, weight, and margin. We have taken a more conservative approach to his re-rating. His 4^th placing, no black-type, $7500 in prizemoney, and question marks around form levels, would make a large re-rating inappropriate.

We have aligned him Aftermath’s 4^th pacing in the Livamol last spring at 85 and logically sits 1 point higher than recent Open Handicap winner Jethro Tull (8^th).

First Five, off paddock parade, looks the biggest improver. With only one quiet barrier trial leading in he was understandably on soft side and was warm pre-race. His was an excellent return.

Croccetti had trialled well prior and looked forward. He hasn’t had all favours with a 3-wide run, but given soft tempo left more questions than answers.

Speed figures have the race as a stronger renewal than 2025 – unsurprising given relative fields. It is also stronger than Bonny Lass (2024) and interestingly the figure is close to parity with Imperatriz (2022) – although noting Imperatriz was likely not at her best on a Heavy 10 track that day.

In summing, this was an excellent renewal of Foxbridge Plate, and we now look forward to NZ’s first Group 1 for the season, the Proisir Plate, next week at Ellerslie. Add last season’s star Well Written, along with Tuxedo, Waitak and She’s A Dealer to the conversation and we are in for a treat.