[Saudi Cup Official Release] Last season’s Dante Stakes hero The Foxes is reported to be ‘spot on’ ahead of bidding to scoop the first major international success of his career in the G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh at The Saudi Cup a week on Saturday.
Since tasting victory in the prestigious Group 2 prize at York in May the Andrew Balding-trained four-year-old has failed to get his head in front in four subsequent starts including when finishing fifth in the Derby at Epsom.
However, with quick conditions at King Abdulaziz Racecourse set to suit the son of Churchill, connections of the King Power Racing-owned colt are optimistic of a bold show in the extended 2100m contest.
The Foxes, who will once again be partnered by three-time UK champion jockey Oisin Murphy, warmed up for the $2 million prize last month when making his debut on an artificial surface at Southwell, which connections believe will put him in perfect shape for his latest assignment.
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 1 or Group 2 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.”
Although The Foxes, who also landed the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on his final start as a two-year-old, registered only one success in 2023 connections are confident he will be even more effective this season.
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 four-year-old and this is a good spot for him while King Power Racing wants to be involved in these sorts of races.”
Art Power will bid to supply further big race success for King Power Racing earlier on the same card when contesting the Group 2 Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint, worth $2 million.
The Tim Easterby-trained seven-year-old was last sighted securing the first Group 1 success of his career when springing a surprise under David Allan in the Group 1 British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot back in October.
And while the Dark Angel gelding will face different conditions to those on his last start, connections believe with a good draw he could play a leading role.
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.”
(18/2/2024)
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