Dany The Fox will have his last chance to impress at Group 1 level in when he contests the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The remainder of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign for Dany The Fox will be decided after he runs in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Dany The Fox made his Group 1 debut in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield just under a fortnight ago, finishing tenth just three lengths behind the winner Rebel Dane, but trainer Mick Price revealed this morning that the Danroad gelding will drop back to easier races if he fails to perform well this weekend.
“I’m running him in a mile race where he gets his chance to win a Group 1 handicap,” Price told Sky Racing HQ.
“I don’t know if he is a Group 1 handicapper but he was beautifully ridden in the 1400m and I’m sure Dean (Yendall) will ride him well again and he gets his chance.
“If he can run in the first three we will persevere otherwise we might even drop him back.
“The Seymour Cup is eight days after Saturday and those sort of races are there for him if we think he is just two or three lengths below those Group 1 handicappers.”
The five-year-old gelding worked alongside Caulfield Guineas hopeful El Roca at trackwork yesterday morning and the pair flew home in less than 23 seconds.
Price admitted that El Roca worked home stronger than Dany The Fox but was impressed with the Kilmore Cup winners effort.
“I thought my horse worked as good as he could,” Price said.
“Over the years we have won Group 1 races going into that 23.5 range for the last two furlongs and they broke 23 those two horses.
“I thought El Roca sat off me and worked better than me as did Rebel Dane just before he won the other day.
“I can’t have my horse any better.”
Dany The Fox is well down the 2013 Toorak Handicap betting market at odds of $31; with Robert Heathcote-trained Solzhenitsyn ($5) a narrow favourite from Linton ($7) and Speediness ($7.50).
Price is chasing his third victory in the Toorak Handicap after previously winning the race with Red Dazzler in 2006 and Alamosa in 2008.
