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| Staff Writer |
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The Foxes, winner of last season's Dante Stakes, is gearing up for his first major international victory in the Gr. 2 Howden Neom Turf Cup during Riyadh's Saudi Cup event next Saturday.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the 4YO hasn't clinched a win since his triumph at York in May. Despite finishing fifth in the Epsom Derby and struggling in subsequent races, The Foxes' camp remains hopeful due to favorable track conditions at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
Owned by King Power Racing, The Foxes, sired by Churchill, will be ridden by Oisin Murphy, the three-time UK champion jockey. A recent debut on an artificial surface at Southwell has left connections optimistic about his chances for the US$2 million prize.
Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, said, “We gave The Foxes a bit of a pipe opener at Southwell in preparation for his trip to Saudi Arabia.
“It was not ideal conditions for him, and he needed the run, but we were happy with it and that will have put him spot on for this back on his favoured fast ground over an extended 10 furlongs.
“If you have got a horse that is Group one or Group two level that likes fast ground then these international races are high on the agenda and this race has been his target for a while.
“There is big prize money out there, but he wants quick ground and you know you are going to get it in these races in Saudi Arabia.”
Despite having just one win in 2023, The Foxes, who also won the Group two Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on his final start as a 2YO, is expected to perform even better this season according to his connections.
Donald added, “The Dante win was great, but he didn’t stay the trip in the Derby. He should have won the Grade 1 (Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes) in America and he was then not quite himself at York in the Juddmonte International as he was beaten too soon.
“He always promised to be better as a 4YO and this is a good spot for him while King Power Racing wants to be involved in these sorts of races.”
On the same card, Art Power will aim to secure another major victory for King Power Racing by competing in the US$2 million Group two Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint. The 7YO, trained by Tim Easterby, had previously won his first Group one race in the British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October, which came as a surprise.
Although the Dark Angel gelding will face dissimilar conditions this time, his connections remain optimistic that he could perform well if he gets a good draw.
Donald said, “Art Power was given a great ride by David at Ascot where he probably had his favoured surface. This race will be run on quick ground but if you look through his form he has run in a lot of top races on decent ground so we are not worried about that.
“If we get a good draw, it is a race that suits horses up on the pace. Happy Power was not beaten far in this and he would not be as good as Art Power.
“There is not a lot on for him early on so he can go for this race then have a bit of a rest and get ready for Royal Ascot. He will probably have a similar programme to last year and go back to Ireland at some point as well.
“The lads at home say he likes travelling, and even though this is much longer than going to France or Ireland he is a very relaxed horse so he should be fine with the journey.”