Clayton Douglas | Clayton Douglas News 61490 Foxenberg Lives Up To Expectations On Debut

Starting a $1.28 favourite on debut can bring added pressure, and it did for the Clayton Douglas team at Cranbourne Friday night with high expectations of one particular runner.

The 3yr old gelding Foxenberg had taken time to mature but dominant wins in two jumpouts in the lead up suggested his trainers patience was going to be rewarded...and it was in impressive style.

Jumping from barrier 3, in form jockey Daniel Stackhouse let the gelding roll to the front in the 5 horse field.  Coming into the straight the pressure was put on by the Matt Laurie runner, Central Bank, but with a bit of encouragement the big son of Foxwedge dug deep and strode away to win by 1.75 L.  Even more impressive, his win on debut was less than half a second outside the track record (57.81) over the 1000m.

Daniel Stackhouse was full of praise for the horse. “Began well, (I) just let him flow, just left him alone and be a happy horse, when he got pressure to the outside he switched on. He’s still very lost and raw and immature, still got no idea. Nice win and great debut for stable and he’ll definitely go on with it” said Stackhouse.

His trainer was equally complimentary. “ I think he’ll get 1400m in time and if he does he’s going to be a pretty serious horse for the stable. He’s a nice, big solid type and he has nice ability.

He’s been really slow maturing, gone shin sore a couple of times. He’s a horse that can fire up really quick and when he does he’s a really hard horse to get back. It was really nice to see him relax the way he did in front and give himself a chance, and when that horse challenged he had to knuckle down a little bit and obviously come away with a good win” said Douglas.

A $55,000 purchase from the Inglis Premier Sale, he was bred by Andrew Roussou who stayed in the ownership.

Congratulations to a great group of co-owners and loyal stable supporters - Clayton Douglas Racing , Mr A Roussou, Double W, Mr B B Hughes, Mrs A G Dewar, Birkland, Noosa Ninjas, Toe Racing, Ms J Crewes, Mr R W Webb, M Raynor, Mr B C Wolens