By Brian Sheerin
International bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who purchased Thursday's G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) on behalf of the King Power team, is backing the colt to get the Derby trip at Epsom.
The Foxes was cut into a general 8-1 chance for Derby glory after winning the key trial at York for trainer Andrew Balding and the in-form jockey Oisin Murphy.
He hails from a family the connections know well, given the half-brother Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carried the blue and white silks of King Power with great distinction, and Donald had to go to 440,000gns to secure him at Book 1 at Tattersalls from his breeders Barronstown Stud.
Donald recalled, “We had a natural affiliation towards the pedigree with Bangkok being a good horse for the King Power team but, even without Bangkok being in the pedigree, the mare is faultless. To be honest, he was a better-looking horse than Bangkok was as a yearling. Bangkok is a very elegant horse but this fella is even more so.
“He had more scope than Bangkok, however, he is still quite an old-fashioned and pretty horse–he almost looks like a show horse in the ring, accentuated by the flashiness of his white socks etc. But, walking around the paddock, he's a horse who naturally catches the eye.”
Thursday proved that The Foxes, who hails from that outstanding broodmare Tanaghum (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), dam of six black-type performers including Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass), has an engine to match his looks.
His progression has delighted Donald, who put forward the colt's potent turn of foot as a key asset with a view towards winning the Derby.
He said, “From the moment he won the Royal Lodge, it was always going to be the plan for him to run in the Craven as a stepping stone towards the Dante. Now it's on to the big one, all being well.
“The fact that he switches off and relaxes so much more than Bangkok used to–he was very much a 10-furlong horse and was always on it a bit–gives him a great chance of getting the Derby trip.”
Donald added, “He relaxes a lot better than Bangkok did and, obviously, his full-sister Perotan (Ire) stayed two miles. I wouldn't go to Epsom beating the drum saying, yes, he'll definitely get the 12 furlongs, but I think there are plenty of things to suggest that he will. And, if he does, I doubt there will be a horse in the Derby with a better turn of foot than he has.”
Asked what victory at Epsom would mean to the team, Donald concluded, “King Power have put a lot of money into the game and this is what it is all about–winning big races. We've had some nice horses and winners at Royal Ascot. We've had Group 1 winners and Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) has been great for us, but the Derby is everyone's dream and it's very hard to get a runner in the race, let alone one with a decent chance.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
