Churchill Colt Wins G2 Dante

Tara Madgwick - Friday May 19

Classic three year-olds stepped out again at York overnight with the Group II Dante Stakes (1m2 ½f) going to a son of Churchill (IRE), who shuttles back to Australia this spring.

The Group III Musidora Stakes run the previous day for the three year-old fillies was won by exciting Frankel filly Soul Sister, read about her here.

Trained by Andrew Balding, The Foxes won the Group II Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last year and returned with a second in the  Group III Craven Stakes last month.

He showed his class when sticking on solidly to win his first try at a longer trip by a neck over late closer White Birch.

 

“I was more relieved than impressed. The Foxes meandered across the course a little bit but he was the best horse in the race,” said Andrew Balding.

“We're thrilled, it's just what we wanted to see, to win the race and hopefully go on to better things. We always had a doubt whether he would stay a mile and a half, but I think on today's evidence an extra couple of furlongs won't go amiss.”

The Foxes is likely to head next to the Group I Epsom Derby next month.

“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,” Balding added.

Bought for 440,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book Yearling Sale by Sackville Donald, The Foxes has won three of six starts and is a full brother to this staying stakes-winner Perotan.

Bred by Barronstown Stud, he is the sixth stakes-winner among 11 winners from blue hen Tanaghum, whose other stakes-winning offspring are Group I winner Matterhorn, Group II winner Bangkok, Group III winner Tactic and stakes-winner Yaazy.

The Foxes is one of 10 stakes-winners for Churchill, who stands at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $22,000. He has two runners in the Group II BRC Roses on Saturday in Super Chilled and Madame Odette.

Churchill (IRE) stands at a fee of $22,000.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.