Chris Waller continued the magic feel of The Championships Day 2 at Royal Randwick after the highs of Winx, making it a Group 1 training double with the filly Foxplay taking out the Queen Of The Turf Stakes 2017.

Foxplay broke through with a Group 1 win over the older mares in the 2017 Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

All the money was on Winx to post her seventeenth straight in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and two runs later her up-and-coming younger stablemate Foxplay scored an in the $1 million Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).

Run this year as the Coolmore Legacy Stakes, the results in the weight-for-age mile feature for fillies and mares saw Foxplay become the first three-year-old Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner since Forensics in 2008.

It was also super trainer Waller’s first win in the event and the maiden Group 1 success for Foxplay’s sire Foxwedge.

Who was no stranger to Queen Of The Turf Stakes success though was jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

McEvoy enjoyed his third win in the race in five years having also ridden Appearance (2013) and Amanpour (2015) to victory.

“She is so honest and game and she deserves a Group 1,” McEvoy said of Foxplay post-victory on Saturday.

“She has put up some great performances – last prep and this prep – and that was a great performance.”

Coming off a brave fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), Waller did a wonderful job getting Foxplay in prime form back in distance taking on the older mares.

It was former Flight Stakes winner First Seal up in the lead early, sitting ahead of the well-supported favourite Silent Sedition coming off a Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) sprint win in Melbourne.

Foxplay was also prominent, but caught deep out four wide and covering ground with no cover.

“I wanted to be a bit closer given the lack of speed in the race and I ended up being parked without much cover, but she travelled like a dream,” McEvoy said.

The Andrew Noblet-trained four-year-year-old Silent Sedition was getting a lovely run on the fence being challenged by First Seal in the lead on her outside.

From the wide barrier, the John Thompson-trained Emancipation Stakes winner Zanbagh meanwhile was tracking just worse than mid-field out very deep.

On the straight it was a fighting finish with Silent Sedition in for the fight with First Seal, before the late runs from Foxplay and the Ron Quinton-trained Dixie Blossoms.

Foxplay eventually hit the front and held on to beat home Zanbagh who put in a super run down the outside with Dixie Blossoms finishing off the trifecta in third.

It was a tough win by the filly who finished off well, hitting another gear after straightening and looking every bit a spring star in the making.

“I was a little bit worried at the top of the straight as they kept coming out in front of me and I had to keep going out wider and wider, but full credit to the filly she showed a great turn-of-foot there to get herself on top and prove how good she is,” McEvoy added of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner.

“It is handy to be knocking them in on the big days and I am getting good support from trainers like Chris Waller.

“Fair play to him and his team.”

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2017 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 9 – 08/04/2017