Andrew Balding enjoyed his first winner at this year’s Chester May meeting when The Foxes glided to a smooth success in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes.
Something of a globetrotting star following runs in Saudi Arabia, America, Dubai and Qatar, The Foxes was returning to winning ways after chasing home the highly-talented Rebel's Romance in the valuable H H The Amir Trophy.
Stepping onto the Roodee for the first time, the King Power-owned contender got the dream run around under Oisin Murphy, who tracked the leaders before angling off the rail to get a sight at the leaders.
Alice Haynes' outsider Cairo kicked into a clear advantage turning off the final bend, but Murphy always looked to have the move covered on The Foxes, who picked up smartly to move past the longtime leader in the closing stages. Cairo battled on well to fill the runner-up spot, although he was no match for the 13/8 market leader, who pulled clear to score by a length and three quarters, with Liberty Lane staying on late to get up for third.
With entries in the Coronation Cup, Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Coral-Eclipse, Andrew Balding's charge could be set for a step back up to Group 1 company.
Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, Murphy said: "He was superbly prepared by everyone at home as it wasn't completely smooth sailing from Doha to here and Andrew is going to be delighted with that.
"He was push button and one of the easiest rides you will have round here. It's all down to the work at home and he wasn't always that easy to ride or have that gate speed, but it has come together over the last few starts and that was a joy to be a part of.
"Andrew was happy for me to do whatever, and it is important to have big winners for owners King Power Racing, they invest a lot into the sport and it's great to ride for them and have winners for them.
"Andrew will have a think about what he could run in at Royal Ascot and we also had a Group 2 winner the other day in Bellum Justum and they kind of fit in the same category. They are both 10-or 12-furlong horses and one is four and one is five, so Andrew will have a think."
The trainer's wife Anna Lisa Balding added: "We're absolutely delighted, and you need a lot of luck as you always do round Chester. He had a good draw, but we needed a good pilot and Oisin did a brilliant job.
"The horse has been in brilliant form at home and Maddy, one of our assistants, rides him every day, she loves him and has done a super job with him.
"He picked up half a million pounds for going to Qatar and finishing second and he's a very bonny horse who loves his job and really deserved that today."
