Just minutes after the fellow Listed Chesham S. flop Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) had caused an upset in the G2 Beresford S., King Power's The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) did the same in Newmarket's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. , a “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in November. Only ninth in that June 18 Royal Ascot contest, the Andrew Balding-trained 440,000gns Book 1 graduate had come back to break his maiden in a Goodwood maiden also over seven furlongs July 30 and raised his game upped to a mile here. Comfortable sitting last of the quartet despite the moderate pace set by Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion), the 17-2 shot was delivered against the far rail by David Probert to gain the edge inside the final furlong and beat the long-time leader by half a length, with the disappointing 2-7 favourite Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) only third, a short head away.
“He's matured really well this horse–both mentally and physically. He got into a lovely rhythm and handled the undulations quite well today,” Probert said of the winner who gets his title from the nickname of the Srivaddhanaprabha family's Premier League club Leicester City. “This name was always saved for a special one and they have got one. He's got a lovely temperament and the way he has galloped out today, it won't be a problem going up in trip. He's just a professional.”
Andrew Balding added, “We thought they would go a stronger gallop than that, so he has done very well to come from that position and get the job done. For King Power, we are trying to get them as many chances at Royal Ascot as we could, so we slightly rushed his programme but we always thought highly of him and had to re-group. He has an entry in the Futurity Trophy, but I think he is a horse that will go on and I'd prefer to wait until next year. Where Epsom is concerned, his brother was better over a mile and a quarter than a mile and a half, but that is something we will find out over time.”
Charlie Johnston revealed that Dubai Mile could run again in 2022. “He is still very green. He has won two novices convincingly, but he has not been in the heat of the battle. It was only when the horses came to him that he engaged into top gear. I'm sure people will pick holes in the form, but I think time will tell it was a good race. He is in the Vertem Futurity Trophy and I wouldn't rule that. He could go to the mile-and-a-quarter group one in France and I'd expect we will roll the dice in one or the other.”
The Foxes (Ire) becomes the fifth group winner for his sire and the sixth black-type winner for the stellar producer Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose previous best are the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), this stable's G2 York S. scorer Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Also responsible for Churchill's Listed Her Majesty's Plate-winning 3-year-old Ballydoyle resident Perotan (Ire), she is the second dam of the four-times group 1-winning star miler and sire Ribchester (Ire) and this year's G2 Vintage S. winner Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
The second dam Mehthaaf (Nureyev), who landed the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, is kin to the G1 July Cup hero Elnadim (Danzig) and to Only Seule (Lyphard), who produced the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}). She is in turn the dam of the GI Arlington Million hero Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and is the second dam of Galileo's G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Intello (Ger). Tanaghum's filly foal is a full-sister to The Foxes.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 9-24, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:43.66, gd.
1–THE FOXES (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Tanaghum (GB) (SP-Eng), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Mehthaaf, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Elle Seule, by Exclusive Native
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (440,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-David Probert. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $96,445. *1/2 to Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells), GSW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $142,213; to Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW-Eng, SP-Qa, $926,107; to Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Fr; & to Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), G1SW-UAE, SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $780,089. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dubai Mile (Ire), 128, c, 2, Roaring Lion–Beach Bunny (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€20,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Skymarc Farm (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston. £26,875.
3–Flying Honours (GB), 128, c, 2, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Powder Snow, by Dubawi (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £13,450.
Margins: HF, SHD, 3/4. Odds: 8.50, 16.00, 0.29.
Also Ran: Greenland (Ire).
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By Frankel
