Volpe Risorsa’s debut win
Promising four-year-old mare Volpe Risorsa broke through for her debut win on the Ballarat Synthetic on Friday, August 19.
The lightly raced daughter of Foxwedge was ridden out of her comfort zone at her fourth race start to lead throughout in the Porter Plant Fillies & Mares Maiden (1200m).
Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Volpe Risorsa was having her first start from a break but attracted heavy support firming from $1.50 to start $1.30 favourite.
In her previous three runs, the mare had settled back in the field, but fresh today, she was taken to the front by jockey Mitchell Aitken.
Volpe Risorsa cruised in front and gave a nice kick on the home turn establishing a two-length break.
She tended to tire close to home eventually scoring by a long neck from In My Feelings ($8) with Brazen Delight ($8.50) a length away third.
Trainer Calvin McEvoy was delighted for Volpe Risorsa to land her initial victory.
“She did a good job,” McEvoy said.
“In her trial she showed a bit of dash and if she hadn’t done that, we probably would have thought she would get back today.
“The instructions to Mitch were just to ride her as he found her.
“She began well, and he had to make the decision and she had the tow to roll on, so it was a very good effort.
“She is probably not a leader, but I also don’t think she is a completely get back horse.
“Volpe Risorsa had to do it a little bit tough today first-up and just felt the pinch late which was probably to be expected.
“There will be plenty of improvement to come out of it.
“I have got to thank the team at home, she is not an easy mare.
“Arthur Mainwaring does most of the riding on her and he does a terrific job, putting up with her I suppose but things are going good now.
“She is a nice mare going forward.”
Winning jockey Mitchell Aitken also believes Volpe Risorsa has a promising career ahead.
“She was very good first up today,” Aitken said.
“She was looking for the line late, but she was probably entitled to after being ridden a bit more positive than I would have liked to early in the race.
“I trialled her the other day and I thought she would probably be better suited further back in the run but she jumped so well so I took bad luck out of the equation.”
Aitken said he was sure Volpe Risorsa would be better ridden with a sit.
“One hundred percent, she can finish off better in her races and I think she will be better over more distance.
“She has a few tricks up her sleeve, she can be a bit naughty, but once she matures I think she can go places.”