The toughness of The Cunning Fox has provided jockey Tommy Ryan with a fourth success in the Australian Hurdle.
Ryan said it was only the jumper’s toughness that got The Cunning Fox home after the jockey felt the horse was struggling 1200m from home in the 3900m contest at Sandown on Sunday.
Remaining unbeaten over hurdles in six attempts, The Cunning Fox ($3.50) lumped topweight of 71kg to a 1-¾ length victory over Highland Blaze ($3.50) with the $2.60 favourite Affluential a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
The race time of 4 min 35.41 seconds was a little over six seconds slower than Stern Idol recorded when winning the Australian Steeplechase over the same journey earlier in the day.
Ryan said The Cunning Fox probably should not have won Sunday’s contest.
“We didn’t go overly quick and then they quickened at the top of the hill, and I was left totally flat-footed,” Ryan said.
“He winged the second-last and I was hoping to just stay on their coattails, but once we got in the straight, I gave him one backhander and away he went.
“He put his ears back and was fighting. He’s a tough, tough horse.”
While there were many who were concerned whether The Cunning Fox would stay the 3900m of Sunday’s race, the distance was no concern for Ryan.
“I always thought he would stay the 3900 metres and would get further, and he does,” Ryan said.
“He has that will-to-win. If we could buy that, we would all be multi-millionaires.
“Unfortunately, we all don’t have it, but he has it in bucketloads.”
Syndicator Joe O’Neill is in awe of The Cunning Fox who ran down Stern Idol to win at Pakenham before scoring in the Galleywood Hurdle (3200m) at Warrnambool on April 30.
“He’s a fantastic horse and I’m in awe of how tough he is,” O’Neill said.
“I was a little bit concerned about the trip, but when you look back at his pedigree, he’s got a magnificent European staying pedigree, and he’s closely related to Singspiel who was a very good stallion.
“He’s a cracker and the owners have had a great ride with him.”
