Racing: Desert Fox primed for winning show

Desert Fox, who on Sunday will be having only his second start in the 2014 season, impressed clockers at Kranji yesterday morning when he galloped over the 600m in 35.4sec - striding out nicely all the way.

The youngster, who is owned by Mummify Stable, had top Brazilian hoop Manoel Nunes in the saddle.

Desert Fox was undoubtedly one of the talents of 2013 when he won three races in his six months of racing. For good measure, he never finished further than fourth in those eight starts.

FIRST WIN

Just to recap, last June, Desert Fox toyed with his opponents in his debut - coming from a midfield position at the top of the straight to win by half a length over the flying 1,000m on the Polytrack.

He was even more impressive in his next start which was at the tailend of June. Befitting his name, it was a crafty win. That time, over the longer 1,200m and on the turf, he marked time near the rear and was unsighted when they turned.

Just when many thought he had left it too late, he opted for a grandstand finish - charging home to beat a talented field by almost one and a half lengths.

A string of placings followed - among them a second behind War Afair in the Juvenile Championship - before he put in his third victory in a Graduation in November when he beat Mangatangi by half a length over the 1,200m.

Having done enough for the season, the Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old was next seen on the track in mid-January. In that race, he was shouted the winner at the 150m mark but ran into some interference and had to take third.

The winner, and a deserving one at that, was Wild Geese.

Desert Fox meets a strong field in Sunday's Class 3 Division 2 sprint over 1,200m. There's Yin Jie, Speed Demon and the talented Double Star to deal with - but deal with them he should.

After all, Freedman does appear to have got him in great shape - as we saw in yesterday's hit-out.

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