The breeding is worth a look. The father, Persian Force, was one of the quickest juveniles seen in Britain and Ireland in recent years, a horse built for speed over short distances. The mother's side brings in Siyouni, a French sire with an excellent reputation for producing horses that are sharp early and improve steadily as they get older. On paper, that combination suggests a horse who should be ready to perform at two without needing years of racing to find its feet.
The trainer, Robson De Aguiar, operates out of Mullingar in County Westmeath and has had a productive season — 11 winners already from the yard, which is a decent return and suggests the horses are coming to hand in good order. A first-time runner from a trainer in that kind of form is always worth paying attention to, even without a single race to point to. Everything about Xantos is still to be written.