Royal Lodge: The Foxes advances Classic claims

Andrew Balding is yet to train a winner of the Derby, but The Foxes (17-2) could be the horse to change that statistic at Epsoms Downs next June after enhancing his Classic credentials with victory in the opening Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket today.

Despite only four runners going to post for the mile Group Two prize it failed to stop a grandstand finish from being produced with the son of Churchill prevailing to add to his maiden success at Goodwood last time out.

After setting a steady gallop for much of the race, long-time leader, and outsider of the field, Dubai Mile was joined by his three rivals entering the final furlong as the pace began to quicken and the dash to the line began in earnest.

Proving tough to pass it was only inside the final 100 yards that Dubai Mile eventually relinquished his lead to The Foxes, who forged a path close to the far side rail before going on to score by half a length with 2-7 Favourite Flying Honours a short head back in third.

Following the race The Foxes was introduced at 25-1 for the Derby by William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfair.

Balding, who was saddling his second Royal Lodge winner after Elm Park (2014), said: “It was a tactical race. We thought they would go a stronger gallop than that but he has done very well to come from that position to get the job done. I love the way he galloped out head down. I’m very pleased.

“For King Power we are trying to get them as many chances at Royal Ascot as we could so we slightly rushed his programme after that but we always thought highly off him but we had to re-group after Ascot and he has done nothing wrong since.

“I would think that would be it. He has (got an entry in the Vertem Futurity Trophy) but I think he is a horse that will go on next year. I think he wants this sort of ground and I’d prefer to wait to next year.

“King Power are very important to us and it is lovely to have a really good horse for them. I hope depending how far he could stay he would develop into an Epsom horse. His brother was better over a mile and a quarter but that is something we will find out over time.”

Equally was pleased with the display was winning jockey David Probert who described The Foxes as a “professional” and noted that the horse’s name had been kept for a special horse by the King Power Racing, which is owned by the Srivaddhanaprabha family. The Srivaddhanaprabhas also own Premier League soccer team Leicester City who are nicknamed “The Foxes”.

Probert said: ““I had a very smooth passage. We haven’t gone overly fast and he’s matured really well this horse – both mentally and physically. He into a lovely rhythm and handled the undulations quite well today.

“He hit the line well and I’m delighted for King Power and the team back home. 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 a lovely prospect and I am delighted to get on him.

“He has taken a while to really come to himself. Ascot probably came a bit too quick for him and the penny only really dropped when he got a bit of cover at Goodwood last time.

“Everything has gone smoothly from that day on. He great now – he’s very relaxed, goes to post really well and takes the prelims great. He’s just a professional.”

While an outing in the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster appears to be off the cards for The Foxes it is on the agenda for Dubai Mile according to Charlie Johnston, who trains the Roaring Lion colt in partnership with his dad Mark.

Johnston said: “There are plenty of times when we go slowly at the front to suit us and inconvenience everyone else but that wasn’t one of those occasions.

“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. We came here with the most to prove and we came to find out if he was up to this level and I’m confident he is.

“He is in the Verterm Futurity Trophy and I wouldn’t rule that. He could go to the mile and a quarter Group One in France either but I’d expect we will roll the dice in one or the other.”

Charlie Appleby said of the beaten favourite Flying Honours: “We’ll just put a line through that – it was a strangely run race. Whether we give him another run I’m not sure, we’ll see how he comes out of it.

“I might just give him one more to tighten him up. He is in at Doncaster, but there’s a handy race here in a couple of weeks, the Autumn Stakes. He knows the track now.”