Group 1 winning mare Fenway (High Chaparral x Deedra) strode to victory overnight in the Group 2 MVRC Stocks Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley. After an unlucky first up run in the Group 2 MRC Let’s Elope Stakes last month, a positive ride saw the four-year-old dive to victory in the last 100m ahead of May’s Dream and Scratchy Bottom.

From the family of Denise’s Joy, Fenway was bred and sold by Strawberry Hill Stud to Colm Santry Bloodstock for $700,000 at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Fenway is raced by Greg & Jenny White of Alpara Lodge, and trained in partnership by father-son duo Lee and Shannon Hope, who were confident she would be competitive if she got a start in the Cox Plate.

“We were always going to just wait until we got past today,” said Shannon Hope.

“We’d love to have a Cox Plate runner. I think 2000 metres is her pet distance,” Hope said.

Blake Shinn, who was also aboard for her Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes earlier this year, expertly steered the mare to the line.

“I had to be positive early, I didn’t want to be in a position to be dictated to. I wanted to dictate the race myself and I had the barrier to be able to do that,” said Shinn.

“It was an exciting race from the 400m but she dug deep and she just delivered,” Shinn said.

Fenway’s dam Deedra is a sibling to multiple Group 1 winner Sunday Joy, and Fenway herself is half-sister to fellow Inglis Easter graduate War, a son of More Than Ready, who is standing his second season Blue Gum Farm.

Fenway has notched up three wins and two placings from nine starts and in excess of $480,000 in prizemoney.