Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes
Group 2, York 15:35
£180,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 2f 56y, Class 1    
Thursday 18th May 2023

FreeRacingTips

1 The Foxes 6/1
2 White Birch 9/1
3 Continuous 6/1
3 Passenger 9/2F
11 ran NR: King Of Steel Distances: nk, 1¼l, dht
Time: 2m 5.84s (fast by 2.26s)

The Andrew Balding-trained, King Power-owned The Foxes was given a polished ride by Oisin Murphy, who was happy to sit off a well-contest pace early on from his good draw in stall two.

Liberty Lane, Killybegs Warrior and Dancing Magic helped set a decent clip, with Craven Stakes runner-up The Foxes travelling sweetly in mid-division.

Murphy decided to switch left with a furlong to run and he quickened nicely to score by a neck from White Birch, who came from last to first under Shane Foley.

Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous was produced with a promising run but did not quite seem to get home and dead-heated for third with Sir Michael Stoute’s once-raced Passenger, who looked unlucky with jockey Richard Kingscote unable to find a gap when it mattered. He ran on well once finding daylight.

The Foxes was cut to a general 8-1 for Epsom glory.

Trainers Quotes

Balding said: “He did a bit of meandering across the track. He’s a very good horse, it looked a deep Dante today.

“He’s very professional, he was the most beautiful yearling and he’s been a star to train so far.

“You’d have to think Epsom is the next step as long as you take the usual caveats into account, it comes close enough for example, but if he comes out of it well I think we’d have to give it a go.

“The way he’s hit the line there he’d give himself every chance of getting the trip, it didn’t look like he was stopping at the end there to me.

“I think the main thing is he’d give himself every chance of staying because of his demeanour.”

Balding would not be winning the premier Classic out of turn should The Foxes prevail, after recent near-misses with Khalifa Sat and Hoo Ya Mal.

He added: “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 Hoo Ya Mal (runner-up last year) and Khalifa Sat (second in 2020) were big prices.

“His half-brother Bangkok went there after winning this well fancied, but he ran poorly. We always thought he’d stay, but he was a real 10-furlong horse.

“I think he’ll stay as his dam got a mile and a half well.”

Murphy said: “That was fantastic. I ride for a great stable and this fella was really well prepared at home.

“He’s easy to ride, he relaxes and then he’s able to show that turn of foot. He has all the attributes of a top-quality horse.

“We didn’t go crazy, but rolled along – I hope it’s a good trial for the big races to come. I won this five years ago on Roaring Lion, and on Telecaster, and I hope it’s a good pointer to the Derby.

“I hope he’s a good Derby ride, he relaxes, he’s a beautiful mover and hopefully he’ll stay.

“He gives himself a chance of staying, but he is a fast horse. It’s exciting.”

QuinnBet

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)
£180,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    The Foxes 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 6/1
2 (6) nk White Birch 3 9-2 John Joseph Murphy Shane Foley 9/1
3 (3) 1¼ Continuous 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 6/1
4 (1) dht Passenger 3 9-2 Sir Michael Stoute Richard Kingscote 9/2F
5 (5) ¾ Epictetus 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori 5/1
6 (12) 3 Killybegs Warrior 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston Franny Norton 100/1
7 (4) 1¼ Liberty Lane 3 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 20/1
8 (8) shd Dear My Friend 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston Andrea Atzeni 22/1
9 (7) 2¾ Canberra Legend 3 9-2 James Ferguson Daniel Muscutt 13/2
10 (11) 13 Dancing Magic 3 9-2 Roger Teal Kieran Shoemark 66/1
11 (10) 1¾ Flying Honours 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 11/2
NR 8 (9) King Of Steel 3 9-2 Roger Varian NON RUNNER

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