Churchill’s The Foxes Best In The Dante

There was as much uncertainty as to what would start favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. than what would emerge on top in York's time-honoured Derby trial, but in the end it was one of the benchmark horses The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) who held the bragging rights. King Power Racing's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner had been undone by Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket last month but appreciated this step up to an extended 10 furlongs and travelled sweetly under cover on the rail for Oisin Murphy throughout the early stages. Arriving on the front end passing the furlong pole, the Andrew Balding-trained 6-1 shot veered right but held the slow-starting White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to score by a neck, with 1 1/4 lengths back to the slightly unlucky 9-2 market-leader Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) and Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) who shared third.

“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.”

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 Front1ST 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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Churchill’s The Foxes Wins The Royal Lodge

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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King’s Stand Still The Aim For Winter Power

King Power Racing's Group 1 winner Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) has exited her eighth-place finish in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock in good order and is still targeting the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, according to trainer Tim Easterby. Successful in the G1 Nunthorpe S. last term, she was unplaced in both the G1 Flying Five S. at the Curragh in September and at ParisLongchamp in the Oct. 3 G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. Easterby is putting her performance down to a lack of conditioning and is confident that his filly will improve from the run.

“She's fine. She's come out of it sound and well,” said Easterby. “She just had a blow and needed the race, but she seems all right. That [King's Stand] is the idea.”

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Art Power Bound For Champions Sprint

The G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint on Oct. 16 is next for Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) following his dominant display in the G2 Renaissance S. at The Curragh on Sept. 25. Bearing the King Power racing silks, the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. third drew off by five lengths in the Renaissance. It was his first win since taking the G3 Lacken S. at Naas last July. Art Power was also fourth in the 2020 edition of the British Champions Sprint.

“It was a very good performance in Ireland and he's come out of it really well,” said trainer Tim Easterby. “He's in good order and he goes to Ascot next time. He ran well last year.

“He just wants riding with a bit of patience. That's what he wants and he could win anything.”

Art Power's stablemate Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) is headed to France to take in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye on Oct. 3. Since taking the G3 Cornwallis S. last October, the bay filly opened her season with a listed victory at York on May 13, but was only ninth in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. Back in the winner's circle in the Listed City Walls S. at York on July 10, she won the G1 Nunthorpe S. there on Aug. 20. An awkward break in the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh resulted in a 10th place finish on Sept. 12.

“She's in great form and goes to the Prix Abbaye,” he said. With a bit of luck she can repeat her Nunthorpe performance in France.”

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