2:00 Newbury - 18th May (Friday) Welcome To The Starlight Raceday Maiden Stakes (Plus 10) (Class 4) (2yo)
Fox Premier - trained by Andrew Balding. Only time will tell if this is the case. He is one of 47 entrant at this early declaration stage.
This bay colt is out of a dam called Fann, who ran 19 times and trained by Clive Brittain. She had one win - a progressive horse. She achieved her highest official rating (104) in her last few races before being retired as a brood mare.
Fox Premier cost 700,000G at the yearling sales and runs in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd. They have horses such as Beat The Bank.
Vichai Srivaddhanapradha owns King Power Racing Co Ltd. Football fans will know he is the Thai billionaire owner of Leicester City FC. He is investing substantial money into horse racing. In fact, in 2018 he has spent £16 million. His horses run in the blue and white Leicester City colours.
Purchases include a £2.5 million Frankel filly named King Power and a daughter by Dubawi which cost £1.3 million called Tuk Power. The magnate who made his fortune from his King Power duty free shop empire has 60 horses in training with three handlers: Andrew Balding, Ralph Beckett and Richard Hannon. While David Elsworth, Martyn Meade and David Simcock are on the trainer roster.
Andrew Balding is the lucky recipient of 30 horses at Kingsclere Stables in Hampshire.
He said: ''It is a major boost to the yard. He has bought some lovely horses. The ones I've got are more for next year but he has some nice ones with Richard and Ralph.''
He continued: ''Money doesn't guarantee results but the signs are good. They are the nicest bunch of horses I've ever had. We'll all being doing our hardest to get him some results.''
No doubt Balding has been waiting for this 6f race because this March foal is bred to want 6f - 7f as a starting point. This trainer can win with debutantes. being such an expensive purchase, he is likely to be fancied in the betting.
Other horses in the ownership of King Power Racing Co Ltd.
Fox Vardy - trained by Martyn Meade (£220,500)
Fox Kasper - trained by Richard Hannon (£220,500)
Come On Leicester - trained by Richard Hannon (£378,000)
Good to see the first of a new crop of Frankel two-year-olds.
Read more: Exclusive: Andrew Balding thrives in Kingsclere heritage and promise of Frankel and Leicester City connection
