Dante bid possible for The Foxes

A crack at York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes appears to be on the cards for The Foxes following his second on reappearance in the Craven Stakes.

The Andrew Balding-trained colt cost 440,000 guineas as a yearling and went someway to justifying that price-tag when following up his maiden success at Goodwood with victory in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket in his final appearance at two.

Tackling a mile in the Craven, he travelled smoothly before giving way to Karl Burke’s 2000 Guineas contender Indestructible in the closing stages – a run that will have blown away any cobwebs before a trip to the Knavesmire on May 18.

“He’s a lovely horse. In hindsight I wish I had just followed Indestructible a bit longer,” said Oisin Murphy – who rode The Foxes on the Rowley Mile.

“We felt before the race he would stay a mile and a quarter well and Andrew (Balding) and Alastair Donald (racing manager for owners King Power Racing) mentioned he will probably go for the Dante.

“He’s by Churchill who is a son of Galileo and his best distance was over a mile and we also know the family – we had Bangkok who is the half-brother. He is a lovely horse.”