What's worth noting is where that win came from. The Italian Fox had previously run three times at the level it usually competes at without getting its nose in front — zero wins from three attempts. Chepstow represented a change of scene and, apparently, a change of fortune. Whether that track suits something about how it races, or whether the step down in class was the key, the team at Milborne Port will be watching closely to see if they can replicate it.
That yard is trained by Joe Tizzard, and it has been a productive season — 54 winners sent out, which is a serious body of work and suggests a yard operating with confidence and momentum. Tizzard is not throwing horses at races and hoping; a tally like that reflects genuine skill in placing horses where they can win, and The Italian Fox's recent success looks like another example of that process working exactly as intended. A horse finally running to its potential in the right race, at the right track, at the right time.
With its most recent form reading 1-5-7-9-5 — that win sandwiched around some modest efforts — The Italian Fox is not yet a horse that dominates its rivals. But it is active, it is trained by someone who clearly knows how to find a race for a horse, and it has just proven it can get the job done. Sometimes that is all it takes to make a horse worth following.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chepstow Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 other | 2 Apr | 33.3% |
| Wincanton Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 6 Mar | 0% |
| Exeter Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 17 Nov | 0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 30 Dec | 0% |