Foundation shows his Classic potential under Frankie Dettori
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Gosden and Dettori chase Trophy glory
JOHN GOSDEN and Frankie Dettori are looking to play one last Group 1 ace on the home front in a season they have made their own – and the excitement over Foundation for Saturday’s Racing Post Trophy is mounting.
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The unbeaten juvenile is favourite to take Group 1 honours at Doncaster for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing whose spokesman Harry Herbert said: “Foundation is such an exciting horse and it’s a huge thrill to be taking an unbeaten Listed and Royal Lodge winner into a Racing Post Trophy.”
Future Classic winners have come in abundance from the final British Group 1 of the year and Foundation, who looks set to meet his nearest Royal Lodge Stakes victim Deauville , is already ante-post favourite for the Investec Derby.
The son of Zoffany is also no bigger than 20-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, having won all three of his races, including when fending off Deauville by a cosy three-quarters of a length in the Newmarket Group 2 last month.
As a partnership Gosden and Dettori have bagged seven Group 1 races this year and Herbert believes Foundation, owned by the company’s most exclusive syndicate – which includes Sir Alex Ferguson – could add to that spree.
“He’s been very impressive in all three starts,” Herbert said, “but, as Frankie said, it was only last time at Newmarket that he learned how to race, as previously he was going through the motions.
“I’m sure we’ll face a strong challenge from Ballydoyle, but it won’t be a problem to us if the ground is a bit easy as he has quite an extravagant action with a bit of a knee action in it as well.”
Betfred offer a best-priced 7-4 about Foundation with Deauville – identified by Aidan O’Brien alongside Johannes Vermeer as a likely runner – on offer with most layers at 11-4.
The Doncaster ground was yesterday officially good with a possible 5mm of rain forecast to fall across Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.
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