Balding backs Foxes Tale to return to form and Group success

Andrew Balding is confident Foxes Tales can make his mark at Group race level again this season after scoring for the first time in more than 18 months when proving a cut above his rivals in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Magnolia Stakes at Kempton Park.

Without a win to his name since claiming Group 3 honours in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park in August 2021 the son of Zoffany, who was making his second start since undergoing a gelding operation, addressed that statistic in the Listed feature.

Having finished third in the Winter Derby at Lingfield Park on his most recent start, the 5-2 favourite bided his time in midfield during the early exchanges of the mile-and-a-quarter prize before mounting his challenge approaching the two-furlong pole.

After sweeping past Secret State, winner of last year’s King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, the well-supported market leader quickly put the race to bed before defeating Rogue Millennium by three lengths.

“He had a bit of a wide trip in the Winter Derby but he ran well and Lord North went and franked the form in Dubai, so we were pretty hopeful today," Balding said.

“He is definitely more focused for being gelded and he is back to the level of form he was showing as a three-year-old.

“He has been gelded and has had a good winter off and hopefully he will have a good season.

“It was either he had to win a Group One last season or have him gelded and have him as a racehorse this season and we have him as a racehorse.

“He has done it well and to the eye it was quite impressive.”

A step up in class will be on the agenda for Foxes Tales with Balding earmarking the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Ire-Incentive Scheme Huxley Stakes at Chester on May 12 as his next target.

He said: “I think we will probably go to Chester now for the Huxley Stakes.

"He won a Group 3 as a three-year-old so I can’t see why he can’t win at Group race level again.”