Star Victorian jockey Jason Lyon: I Am The Fox is Alice Springs Cup bound after Fannie Bay feature

STAR Victorian jockey Jason Lyon has no doubt consistent veteran I Am The Fox will give the Alice Springs Cup a good shake, regardless of how he performs in today’s feature over 1600m at Fannie Bay.

I Am The Fox (jockey Jason Lyon) before winning the 2021 St Patrick’s Day Cup for trainer Garry Lefoe Jr. Picture: Caroline Camilleri

STAR Victorian jockey Jason Lyon has no doubt consistent veteran I Am The Fox will give the Alice Springs Cup a good shake, regardless of how he performs in today’s feature over 1600m at Fannie Bay.

But Lyon is also confident in the seven-year-old’s chances in the $25,000 Carnival Tickets on Sale Now Handicap, particularly with a small field of just four other horses.

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“The trainer Garry Lefoe believes he’s improved, which is promising to know,” Lyon told the NT News.

“The horse is set for the Alice Springs Cup and he’s right on track for that.”

Lyon has a strong record aboard I Am The Fox, with four wins from eight starts.

That includes his superb ride last start in the $40,000 Shenannigans St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m), piloting the versatile runner to a half-length victory over Phil Cole’s Looking For You, due to a spirited surge on the straight.

“It was a good win in wet conditions the other day. Looking For You ran a really good race and left me flat-footed over the first 600m,” Lyon said.

“I’m confident (going into today) with a small field, and we’ve drawn a good lane in barrier four which is perfect.

“I know the horse well – I’ve won on him four times.

“He a beautiful horse and very versatile. He is competitive from 1100m to 2400m and does well in the wet and dry.

“It might be a three-horse race. Looking For You will put his hand up again and Fort Knox (trainer Gary Clarke, jockey Jarrod Todd) has been very impressive.”

Victorian Lyon – a super talented hoop who enjoyed a fine 2017 Darwin Cup Carnival – is in good form.

“I rode a winner (at Launceston on Wednesday night) and a double at Avoca on the weekend. Things are going really well,” he said.

“I’ll be flying up (this morning), and then I’ll be flying in and out from June and racing in Darwin and Alice Springs.

“I’ll be riding for Dick Leech and I’m looking forward to it.”