“He did a bit of meandering across the track, but he's a very good horse and it looked a deep Dante,” Balding said. “He's very professional, he was the most beautiful yearling and he's been a star to train so far. You'd have to think Epsom is the next step as long as you take the usual caveats into account, it comes close enough for example, but if he comes out of it well I think we'd have to give it a go. I think the main thing is he'd give himself every chance of staying because of his demeanour.”

The Foxes, whose juvenile form also included a maiden win at tricky Goodwood, has his trainer full of hope heading to the Blue Riband. “We've gone close in the Derby a few times, but I think he'd be the best chance we've had going there as both [runners-up] Hoo Ya Mal and Khalifa Sat were big prices,” he added. “His half-brother Bangkok went there after winning this well-fancied, but he ran poorly. We always thought he'd stay, but he was a real 10-furlong horse. I think he'll stay, as his dam got a mile and a half well.”

The Barronstown-bred THE FOXES takes the Group 2 Dante Stakes @yorkracecourse, marking a second Gr2 win for the @AndrewBalding2 trained & @KingPowerStable owned colt Son of Churchill was sold by Barronstown to @SackvilleDonald at @Tattersalls1766 Book 1 pic.twitter.com/TZmT79uXum

— BarronstownStud (@BarronstownStud) May 18, 2023

John Murphy's son and assistant George said of the G3 Ballysax S. winner White Birch, who was compromised by missing the break, “He ran a super race, quickened up really well and just bumped into one on the day, but we couldn't be happier with the run. He's a super mover and a big, powerful horse–ground doesn't seem to bother him. We'll take him home and see how he comes out of it, but I think he's more entitled to take his chance in the Derby now. If the owners are happy to go there and he comes out of it well, I think he definitely deserves a crack at it.”

Also set for Epsom is the unexposed Wood Ditton winner Passenger, who was stopped in his run inside the final two furlongs. After jockey Richard Kingscote stated, “It was my fault, I couldn't get him a run. It's very frustrating,” Sir Michael Stoute's assistant James Savage added, “It was a bit of a hard-luck story. He was in the stalls a long time, he jumped well and did everything brilliantly for a horse having only his second start after running on a straight mile at Newmarket. There are a lot of positives to be taken out of the race. It didn't happen for Richard up the straight, but that's just one of those things.”

The Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper also said of the third, who was the subject of a significant late gamble and who would need to be supplemented for the Derby at a cost of £85,000, “He's shown that he's a good horse on only his second start. Let's regroup. The family will follow Sir Michael's advice.”

Pedigree Notes
The Foxes is one of six black-type winners for Tanaghum including the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 scorer Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), the aforementioned G2 York S. winner Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Curragh Cup winner Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells). She is also the second dam of the four-times group 1-winning star miler and sire Ribchester (Ire), last year's G2 Vintage S. scorer Marbaan (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G3 Ballycorus S. winner Convergence (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Tanaghum is out of Mehthaaf (Nureyev), who captured the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and is kin to Danzig's G1 July Cup hero and sire Elnadim and the Lyphard mare Only Seule, who went on to prove an important broodmare for the Wertheimers by producing the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}) whose own progeny list is headed by the GI Arlington Million hero Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and who is the second dam of Galileo's G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Intello (Ger). Tanaghum's yearling is a full-sister to The Foxes.

Thursday, York, Britain
AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE S.-G2, £192,250, York, 5-18, 3yo, 10f 56yT, 2:05.84, g/f.
1–THE FOXES (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Tanaghum (GB) (SP-Eng), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Mehthaaf, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Elle Seule, by Exclusive Native
(440,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £109,025. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $253,979. *Full to Perotan (Ire), SW-Ire; and 1/2 to Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), G1SW-UAE, SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $780,089; Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW-Eng, SP-Qat, $926,107; Tactic (GB) (Sadler's Wells), GSW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $142,213; Yaazy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Fr; and Zahoo (Ire) (Nayef), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–White Birch (GB), 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Diagnostic (GB), by Dutch Art (GB). (75,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 48,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Joseph Murphy. £41,334.
3(DH)–Continuous (Jpn), 128, c, 3, Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. £20,686.
3(DH)–Passenger, 128, c, 3, Ulysses (Ire)–Dilmun, by War Front.  1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £20,686.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, DHT. Odds: 6.00, 9.00, 6.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Epictetus (Ire), Killybegs Warrior (Ire), Liberty Lane (Ire), Dear My Friend (GB). Scratched: King Of Steel.

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Dual Honours?

Godolphin already have a tailor-made Derby prospect in Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but Charlie Appleby would relish another and TDN Rising Star Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has the right material based on his emphatic Listed Stonehenge S. success in August. Perhaps compromised by easier ground and tactics afterwards, the relative of Lammtarra still managed to add Newmarket's G3 Zetland S. to his tally and his trainer is bullish. “We know that he gets this trip, having won the Zetland on his final 2-year-old start, and feel that he has the scope to improve again as we step him up over further,” he said. “It looks a competitive renewal of the Dante and whoever wins will be a leading player for the Derby.”

 All Aboard

Sir Michael Stoute carried this off 12 months ago and looks to the Niarchos homebred Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) to jump into the Derby reckoning following his smooth debut win in Newmarket's Wood Ditton last month. Supplemented following his withdrawal from Chester's Listed Dee S. last week, the homebred brings a potential x factor into play. “Passenger was a non-runner at Chester because of soft ground, but should have the perfect ground for him in the Dante,” racing manager Alan Cooper said. “It's a stepping stone and we'll see how he takes it, and Sir Michael will then make a plan afterwards. The hope is he is confirms the potential of the Wood Ditton and we can take it from there.”

Underestimated?

Like Passenger, Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's White Birch (GB) is a son of Ulysses going places and despite his form being there in the book is almost double the price with most bookmakers. His success in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax S. was no fluke and the colt he beat there, Up And Under (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), upheld the form next time when second to what should in all likelihood be the Derby favourite in Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G3 Derby Trial. “We couldn't be happier with him and we're looking forward to it,” commented George Murphy, assistant to father John. “This is a bigger test again and it will be good to see what White Birch can now do. It looks a very hot race on paper and everyone is going there thinking they have the winner.”

Free Pass

York also stages the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S., with another  Strawbridge-Gosdens-Frankie collaboration with the 2021 G2 Park Hill S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). This extended 10-furlong trip is probably shy of her best and the ground may be too lively, so she has very little to lose as her stable look for clues as to her program. “She has shown good form over a mile and a half to a mile and six, but York is a nice, galloping track and we feel it is a good place to start her off,” Thady Gosden said. “She has enough speed to win over 10 furlongs. She has always had plenty of ability and this will tell us more where she goes afterwards.”

Group 1 Winners Return

Runner-up in this last year, Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) went on to win Deauville's G1 Prix Jean Romanet when last seen in August and is penalised as a result. Her course form, which includes a defeat of Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the 2021 Listed Lyric Fillies' S. over this course and distance, entitles her to respect despite the extra three pounds which also applies to last year's G1 Preis der Diane heroine Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}). Now racing in the Teruya Yoshida silks with Roger Varian, the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational runner-up is an unknown quantity in this sphere. “She's a nice filly and has been working well,” her trainer said. “She has some strong 3-year-old form from Germany and America last year, and we're looking forward to getting her started. I think 10 furlongs on a track like York is a nice starting point for her and will give us a good direction moving forwards.”

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Originally scheduled to tackle Lingfield's undulations on Saturday, the unbeaten G2 Beresford S. winner instead races over this contrastingly flat terrain with an abnormal blood count amounting to a minor fork in the road. Hot favourite for the Derby prior to his setback, he now faces a race to restore his position at the head of the pecking order after fellow TDN Rising Star Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was so impressive at Leopardstown on Sunday. “Obviously everybody knows the plan was originally to go to Lingfield on Saturday with him. We couldn't do that, so now he is going to York,” Aidan O'Brien commented. “We're just glad to get him out and then we can see where we go from there.”

Teme Valley's Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has winning course form, having captured the G3 Acomb S. in August and he had Bolshoi Ballet behind as well as the significant subsequent scorers Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) when taking a competitive edition of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October. “It looks a competitive race, but he's been here twice before and won both times,” trainer Mark Johnston said. “The ground shouldn't trouble him. I think a mile and a quarter is most probably his minimum trip now, but it's a stepping stone to run in the Derby next.”

Adding ballast is M M Stables' Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial winner Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), while representing Godolphin is the unbeaten Apr. 16 Newbury conditions scorer Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The latter's trainer Charlie Appleby said, “We are pleased with how Hurricane Lane is coming into this race, off the back of a nice win on his seasonal return. He has come forward for that run and we feel that the track and ground at York will suit. It's the next test for him to see where he is going to end up over the forthcoming months.”

Jim Bolger's runners can never be ignored and it will be possible to put Bolshoi Ballet's form into some sort of perspective as the G3 Eyrefield S. winner Flying Visit (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) was 2 1/4 lengths off that Ballydoyle runner when second in the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown Apr. 11.

Also on York's card is the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S., which lacks the star it often attracts. Aidan O'Brien sends over the 14-furlong G3 Stanerra S. winner Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was also third in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at a mile and a half. “She was very consistent last year and seems in good form, but she's just ready to start,” her trainer said. “She's versatile regarding trip, but I imagine as the season goes on she'll be stepping back up. A mile and a half is probably her best trip.”

In an open race, Cheveley Park Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Cabaletta (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is an interesting contender reverting in trip. “She's in great form and has been training really well,” trainer Roger Varian said of the Listed Apthrodite S.-winning daughter of Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who improved markedly with age. “She's a filly who stays a mile and a half, but she's not short of pace and her runs over 10 furlongs as a 3-year-old were very good.”

Later at ParisLongchamp, the 12-furlong G3 Prix d'Hedouville sees last year's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and Arc runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) renew rivalry with Godolphin's Sublimis (Ire) (Shamardal) having come off second best on his comeback in the course-and-distance Listed Prix Lord Seymour Apr. 18.

Click here for the group fields.

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The unbeaten G2 Beresford S. hero, who races for a Coolmore partnership with Westerberg and trainer Aidan O'Brien, was one of 11 colts declared two days out from the Knavesmire's Blue Riband prep. O'Brien also saddles Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and trainer Jim Bolger sends G3 Eyrefield S. victor Flying Visit (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}).

Mark Johnston's Group 1 winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has also stood his ground, as has John and Thady Gosden's duo of the stakes-placed Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and stakes winner Megallan (GB) (Kingman {GB}), and William Haggas's G3 bet365 Classic Trial hero Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Other Dante hopefuls are Roger Varian's listed-placed Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), Godolphin's two-for-two Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Charlie Appleby yard, and the field is rounded out by David Menuisier's listed winner Belloccio (Fr) (Belardo {Ire}) and Richard Fahey's stakes winner Pythagoras (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).

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“He's got all the credentials, and we're really looking forward to it,” said Johnston. “It's almost a case of whatever happens [this week] he'll be going to the Derby after.

“We went close with Dee Ex Bee a few years ago [runner-up at Epsom in 2018], but this horse is a Group 1 winner already and he'd be the first of those I've run in the Derby I think–I haven't had that many runners in it all told.

“He did well over the winter. He was extremely green when he won at York first time–but when he went back for the Acomb nobody was expecting him to step up quite the way he did.

“Franny [Norton] said after the Royal Lodge that it wasn't his running–and he called James Doyle before the French race to tell him to make plenty of use of him.”

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Commenting on the news, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course said, “York Racecourse is proud of its record of investing in prize money to help sustain the wider racing industry and to attract the best horses to the Knavesmire. This is a time when that strategy needed to be confirmed and we are pleased to be able to commit to returning these four feature contests to their pre Covid levels. The seven-figure investment in the Juddmonte International reflects its status as the Longines World's Best Race. Clearly, the world is still in a difficult place and we will hugely miss the presence of spectators at the Dante Festival 2021.

“However, we wanted to make a positive announcement that reflects what York believes is in the shared best interest of the sport that everyone involved with the Knavesmire loves. The backing of our sponsors and supporters is deeply appreciated. We are excited about the prospect of some fantastic racing in May and the return of owners at the Dante Festival. Thereafter, we very much look forward to the return of spectators to York as the summer unfolds.”

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