Fox Dan enhances his Eureka prospects with APG Final success

Classy entire Fox Dan (Art Major) showed improvement with a decisive harness racing win in the APG Vic Bred Final for four year olds at Melton on Saturday night.

Fox Dan was one of Emma Stewart’s five runners in the race and he was given a great chance early on by driver Ryan Sanderson as he punched up from the inside of the second row to follow the leader Storms Collide who had plenty of support on the pole.

Fairplay who had taken all before him was favourite but he was caught outside the leader. The other in form pacer The Last Trip made his run three wide down the back straight but it was quite clear that if Fox Dan was able to get a clear run he would be the one to beat.

FOX DAN 19 SEP REPLAY

And sure enough he was able to utilise the inside lane as he charged through to draw clear to record an impressive win over The Last Trip and I Am The Storm.

Fox Dan’s win gave Emma Stewart all APG Finals for pacers for two three and four year olds a truly remarkable training feat. Coming off the back of a disappointing Queensland campaign Fox Dan displayed a welcome return to form.

Sanderson stated after the event.

He’s given me a lot of thrills in the sport, that’s for sure.

Obviously we had a really good run similar run in the Derby, and rolled along on the fence on the helmet and it was just a similar run here today. And he’s just a really tough customer, and Clayton and Emma have done a fantastic job with him.

Regarding his unsuccessful trip to Queensland Sanderson stated

There was probably a mix of things. Queensland didn’t go right and I was quite happy with his heat run at Kilmore. He’s three fence and just a dash home. Probably he didn’t look like catching but I thought he went through the line okay. So in the run, knowing that he’d get his ideal run, I thought he’s got every chance to win.

Sanderson seemed optimistic about another crack at the Eureka when last season as a three year old  Fox Dan flew home for a worthy runner up in the coveted classic

I hope so. Obviously you can’t do too much more there. It’s a really good mile rate and over the long so fingers crossed he’s aiming towards that.

This time as a more mature horse he must be counted as a serious prospect.

 

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tony Milanese for Harnesslink