Tag Archive for: Dante Stakes

Classic aspirations on trial as Dante field assembles at York

A host of big-race ambitions go on trial in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

All bar two of the seven intended starters hold the Betfred Derby engagement, with the shortest in the ante-post market for Epsom being the Charlie Appleby-trained Ancient Wisdom.

A Group One winner in his juvenile year from the Futurity Trophy – a race that is working out well – he represents a Charlie Appleby yard that is already on the Classic scoreboard this season after Notable Speech landed the 2000 Guineas.

The Moulton Paddocks handler did state earlier in the week that ground conditions will dictate his participation, however, with the Dubawi colt well-proven with an ease in the ground.

Like Appleby, fellow Newmarket trainer Roger Varian has enjoyed Classic glory in the early exchanges of 2024, with Elmalka lifting the 1000 Guineas. He has an interesting candidate for Knavesmire honours in the shape of Al Musmak, who could book his ticket to Epsom or the French equivalent at Chantilly.

He was in front of Ancient Wisdom when second to 2000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion at Ascot, and rounded off his two-year-old campaign with a fine effort in finishing runner-up to Ghostwriter in the Royal Lodge, form not let down by the winner in the Guineas.

Varian said: “I’m looking forward to running him and he’s slightly under the radar but his two-year-old form is very strong.

“He finished second to Rosallion at Ascot and that form reads very well. Ancient Wisdom and Roger Teal’s horse (Dancing Gemini) were both in behind that day and that Pat Eddery Stakes reads like a really nice piece of form.

Al Musmak is held in good regard by Roger Varian
Al Musmak is held in good regard by Roger Varian (Tim Goode/PA)

“He backed that up by winning the Ascendant Stakes and he won that convincingly on the line. The second, third and fourth that day came second, third and fourth in the Derby trial at Sandown so that reads well and I would say his Royal Lodge second reads well.

“He’s a solid horse, he’s wintered well and we’ve been patient with him. This has always been his target and we think 10 furlongs at a track like York will suit him.

“I think how he runs will point us in a direction. He’s in the French Derby, he’s in at Epsom and he will have Royal Ascot options. I think he’s a nice colt, with a good profile, who should run a good race.”

Also hoping to keep Classic dreams burning bright is Karl Burke’s Caviar Heights, who built on an encouraging reappearance in the Feilden Stakes when quickly returned to the Rowley Mile for the Newmarket Stakes.

Caviar Heights impressed at Newmarket
Caviar Heights impressed at Newmarket (Adam Davy/PA)

That impressive four-length success was only 13 days ago, but the Spigot Lodge handler was loath to pass up the opportunity to enhance the son of Sea The Stars’ CV on the Knavesmire, with owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum giving the Dante bid his seal of approval.

“Sheikh Obaid was all for it and he goes there with a fighting chance and I think the track will suit him,” said Burke.

“I wouldn’t want it too fast for him, but good ground will be ideal for him. He was good at Newmarket and his form was given a little bit of a boost at the weekend by the horse that won the Lingfield Derby Trial (Ambiente Friendly), that finished behind him first time out in the Feilden.

“He goes there with a fighting chance and it’s a different challenge again, but hopefully he comes through it.”

Cambridge at Salisbury
Cambridge at Salisbury (Adam Morgan/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard houses the Derby favourite in City Of Troy and although Cambridge is not in the premier Classic, he has been supplemented for this after finishing fourth in the Craven.

“We’ve been very happy with Cambridge since he ran in the Craven and he is another of ours who we are really expecting to improve for stepping up in trip,” said O’Brien, who surprisingly has not won the Dante since Cape Blanco obliged under Johnny Murtagh in 2010.

“We always think the Dante is the best UK trial, but it just comes a little close to the Derby this year at just two and a half weeks. Especially when you factor in the travelling ours have to do, it’s a little close. We are expecting him to run well, though.”

Owen Burrows’ War Rooms and John and Thady Gosden’s God’s Window have both featured in trials already this term and will be hoping to find improvement in Yorkshire.

Economics was a taking winner
Economics was a taking winner (PA)

Meanwhile, William Haggas sends Economics to his home county’s premier track on a fact-finding mission having shed his maiden status in good style last month.

“Whether this is the right move, only time will tell and it looks a very strong race for him,” said Haggas.

“His connections wanted to find out where we stood where him. I think he’s a nice horse and he is probably our nicest three-year-old – or certainly one of them. I don’t think we’ve got anywhere near the bottom of him yet, so we will have a look and see where he fits in.

“He might not be good enough, but he’s a pretty nice horse and he will like the track and he will like the trip as well, so hopefully he will run a nice race.”



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Appleby monitoring York weather ahead of Ancient Wisdom run

Charlie Appleby is hoping to see suitable ease in the ground at York for leading Betfred Derby candidate Ancient Wisdom, who is set to make his return to action in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on Thursday.

The Futurity Trophy winner heads seven colts declared for the invariably-informative Derby trial, but that Doncaster Group One success came on heavy ground and his Autumn Stakes win at Newmarket before that was on soft.

Appleby told Godolphin.com: “Ancient Wisdom has enjoyed a good preparation and stepping up to an extended mile and a quarter is going to suit. The ground will be a question mark and we will want the rain to come.

“We know that he is a better horse with ease in the ground, so we will be on weather watch slightly. If it’s on the easy side of good, then we will look forward to seeing him run. He has wintered well and we are very happy with him.”

The Moulton Paddocks handler is already responsible for Derby second-favourite Arabian Crown, with Ancient Wisdom a best-priced 8-1 third choice behind ante-post favourite City Of Troy.

Roger Varian resisted running Al Musmak in the 2000 Guineas earlier this month and he makes a step up in trip following some smart form at two, while William Haggas enjoys plenty of success on the Knavesmire and pitches Economics into Group Two company following a taking maiden success at Newbury last month.

Aidan O’Brien had three in the mix at the five-day stage, but has elected to rely on the supplemented Cambridge to snap his losing run in this race that stretches back to 2010.

Karl Burke’s Caviar Heights brings winning form to the table having entered the Dante reckoning by taking the Newmarket Stakes recently, with Owen Burrows’ War Rooms and John and Thady Gosden’s God’s Window completing the septet heading to post.



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Ancient Wisdom heads Dante dozen at York on Thursday

Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom has the opportunity to put his Betfred Derby credentials to the test in Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes, as he tops a maximum field of 12 following Friday’s confirmations.

The Moulton Paddock’s handler already has ante-post Epsom favourite or joint-favourite Arabian Crown in his ranks, and could see his hand strengthened when last year’s Futurity Trophy winner makes his return in the feature of York’s three-day meeting.

Aidan O’Brien has three possible runners at this stage, with Diego Velazquez impressive when claiming the Group Two Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown on his second start before only able to finish sixth behind Ancient Wisdom at Doncaster.

He is set to contest the French 2000 Guineas on Sunday, but Blue Riband Trial third Chief Little Rock could make another trip to Britain for this Group Two event on the Knavesmire, while O’Brien has also supplemented Craven fourth Cambridge.

Roger Varian has already tasted Classic success this season and has elected to go up in trip with Al Musmak who showed some smart form in useful company as a two-year-old, while both Karl Burke’s Caviar Heights and Paul and Oliver Cole’s Black Run were seen in the winner’s enclosure at Newmarket’s Guineas Festival.

The former was an impressive winner of the Listed Newmarket Stakes and now takes the next step on his path towards a potential tilt at Epsom.

Economics impressed when breaking his maiden at Newbury and could step up to 10 furlongs representing William Haggas, while John and Thady Gosden’s God’s Window was well held in Chester’s Dee Stakes but is given a chance for a quick return to action.

Economics was a taking winner
Economics was a taking winner (PA)

Ed Walker’s Harper’s Ferry was due to contest that Listed event on the Roodee before refusing to go into the stalls and is another given a second bite of the cherry, while both Under The Sun (Hugo Palmer) and War Rooms (Owen Burrows) will be hoping to improve on their efforts in Sandown’s Classic Trial if facing the starter in Yorkshire.

In the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Free Wind is in line to defend her crown against the likes of Ralph Beckett’s Champions Day runner-up Bluestocking.

Meanwhile, York chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby is looking forward to the Knavesmire’s opening action of the season, with rain showers in the early part of next week set to ensure perfect conditions for the course’s key Classic trials.

He said: “We’re the quick side of good at the moment after a nice sunny week that is due to continue through the weekend.

“But the weather system changes the early part of next week and we are expecting rain Monday and Tuesday. For racing it is a mixture of sunshine and showers and it will be slightly cooler than of late as we move from a high-pressure system to a low-pressure system.

York is poised for its first meeting of the summer
York is poised for its first meeting of the summer (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It’s natural ground and as everyone knows we have had a wet winter and spring. It’s just dried up and warmed up nicely over the last 10 days. We’re happy with where it is at the moment and will just keep an eye on the rain that will on Monday and Tuesday which will put the ground spot on for racing.”

On the Dante field and the racing itself, Derby added: “It looks fantastic racing and we’re really excited to get started again.

“We’ve got a record-level of prize-money (on offer) and last year Soul Sister won the Musidora before winning the Oaks with Frankie (Dettori) and I think 11 colts have won the Dante/Derby double, so I can’t wait to see what will happen next Thursday in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

“We’re releasing the first phase of our redevelopment of the southern end of the racecourse. That is looking good and coming on well ahead of the full opening ahead of the Ebor and it’s a really exciting time of the year.”

Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby, jockey Frederick Larson and head girl Tara Belfield
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby, jockey Frederick Larson and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)

The card is also due to feature the return to action of Breeders’ Cup winner Big Evs in the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes.

Trainer Mick Appleby said: “Big Evs is in very good order. He has wintered really well – he’s raring to go. Hopefully, he should run very well…hopefully, he’ll win!

“Tom (Marquand) is definitely riding. The main thing now is that the rain stays away. He’ll do his last piece of work tomorrow.

“There were very few races early on for three-years-old over five furlongs. He’s in the Temple Stakes (Haydock, May 25). Then he’ll more than likely go to Royal Ascot in the King’s Stand, which is now the King Charles III Stakes (June 18).

“He’s grown a little bit through the winter, but not a lot. He’s not the biggest of horses. He’s pretty straightforward to train. The thing with him, like I’ve always said, is he’s very quick.”



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Passenger out of luck on the Knavesmire – but not out of Derby picture

Passenger may yet throw his hat into the Derby ring after running with immense promise in defeat in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

It was hard to know what the Ulysses colt had achieved in beating a field of fellow newcomers in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket, but it appeared significant connections decided him to supplement him for a Derby trial Sir Michael Stoute had already won on a record seven occasions, with Desert Crown doing the double just last season.

Punters on the Knavesmire ultimately agreed, with Passenger the 9-2 favourite by the time the gates opened. But what followed was a tale of woe for his supporters.

Ridden by Richard Kingscote, the Niarchos family-owned runner appeared to be travelling all over his rivals halfway up the home straight, but he could not find a gap for love nor money.

By the time Passenger did get a run, it was all too late, but there was much to like about the way he stayed on to dead-heat for third with Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous, beaten just a couple of lengths by eventual winner The Foxes.

While brief in his assessment of the performance, Kingscote immediately blamed himself, saying: “It was my fault, I couldn’t get him a run. It’s very frustrating.”

A decision on whether Stoute and the Niarchos family will roll the dice at Epsom on June 3 is made more complicated by the fact Passenger is not entered, meaning the owners will again have to stump up a supplementary fee, with the price for adding him to the Derby set at £85,000.

Paddy Power were impressed enough by his performance to make him an 8-1 shot like The Foxes, though, and connections ultimately have a couple of weeks to mull it over.

Sir Michael Stoute at York on Wednesday
Sir Michael Stoute at York on Wednesday (Mike Egerton/PA)

Stoute was not on the Knavesmire, but his assistant James Savage said: “It was a bit of a hard-luck story.

“He was in the stalls a long time, he jumped well and did everything brilliantly for a horse having only his second start after running on a straight mile at Newmarket.

“There’s a lot of positives to be taken out of the race. It didn’t happen for Richard up the straight, but that’s just one of those things.”

Interestingly, the only previous horse to be beaten in the Dante and win the Derby was the Stoute-trained Workforce in 2010.

When asked whether Passenger could bid to emulate the subsequent Arc hero, Savage added: “That is going to be a decision for Sir Michael and the Niarchos family. All I can say is that we’ve learnt he’s able to compete at a very high level with the best three-year-olds.

“I’m not so sure experience got him beat because if the gap had come he would have gone through it.

“He’s took a massive step forward from Newmarket to here and we’ll just see how he is.”

Alan Cooper, racing manager for the owners, said: “I’m afraid he didn’t have the clearest of runs, but it was a great improvement from his first start, so let’s get home and see what Sir Michael would like to do.

“He’s shown that he’s a good horse on only his second start. Let’s regroup.

“The family will follow Sir Michael’s advice.”

White Birch (left) is narrowly beaten by The Foxes in the Dante Stakes at York
White Birch (left) is narrowly beaten by The Foxes in the Dante Stakes at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Splitting The Foxes and the third-placed pair of Passenger and Continuous was John Murphy’s Irish raider White Birch.

Winner of a heavy ground Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on his seasonal bow, the grey proved he is equally effective on quicker conditions, charging home from the rear to be beaten only a neck.

Another son of Ulysses, White Birch does hold a Derby entry and appears bound for Epsom. He is 20-1 with Coral.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “He ran a super race, quickened up really well and just bumped into one on the day, but we couldn’t be happier with the run.

“I think the horse himself thought he had it won and the winner just came from out of his vision, but we’re delighted.

“He’s a super mover and a big, powerful horse – ground doesn’t seem to bother him.

“We’ll take him home and see how he comes out of it, but I think he’s more entitled to take his chance in the Derby now. If the owners are happy to go there and he comes out of it well, I think he definitely deserves a crack at it.”



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Flying Honours out to state Derby claims in Dante

Flying Honours will take on 11 rivals as he tries to forward his Betfred Derby claims in Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

Stablemate Military Order is to the fore in the Epsom betting following his Lingfield victory last week and Flying Honours looked a potential Classic contender when winning the 10-furlong Zetland Stakes on his final juvenile start last year.

Canberra Legend makes the switch to Group Two company after an impressive start to his career, winning each of his two starts this term, firstly on the all-weather at Newcastle in February before making a seamless switch to Listed level in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket for James Ferguson.

Passenger represents Sir Michael Stoute
Passenger represents Sir Michael Stoute (Tim Goode/PA)

Sir Michael Stoute won the Dante with subsequent Epsom hero Desert Crown last term and this time he relies on Passenger, winner of the Wood Ditton on his only start to date. The son of Ulysses is not currently entered in the Derby, however.

Epictetus already has one Derby trial win under his belt after scoring in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom last month and he represents John and Thady Gosden, while The Foxes switches up in trip for Andrew Balding after finishing second in the Craven on his reappearance.

Aidan O’Brien relies on French Group Three winner Continuous, who is unbeaten in two starts so far, with the John Murphy-trained White Birch enhancing the Irish challenge after his narrow Ballysax Stakes verdict last time out.

Charlie Johnston is double-handed with Newcastle Listed winner Dear My Friend and likely outsider Killybegs Warrior with Roger Teal’s Dancing Magic, the Karl Burke-trained Liberty Lane and King Of Steel, who will be making his first start for Roger Varian completing the line up.

Free Wind makes her first start of the year at York
Free Wind makes her first start of the year at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Free Wind makes her long-awaited return to action for the Gosden team in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes on the same card.

The five-year-old won the Lancashire Oaks on her only start last term, sustaining an injury when she was badly hampered but still managing to recover and secure the victory.

Eight runners go to post with Varian’s Toksana Belle an interesting contender on her British bow having landed last year’s German Oaks when trained by Andreas Wohler.



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Ferguson eager to assess Canberra’s Classic claims

James Ferguson is excited to see whether Canberra Legend can book his Derby ticket in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

After justifying odds-on favouritism on his racecourse debut at Newcastle in February, the Australia colt successfully stepped up to Listed class in last month’s Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

The three-year-old is a 14-1 shot for the Betfred Derby at Epsom on June 3 with the sponsors and Ferguson is hopeful he can enhance his claims on the Knavesmire on Thursday.

“He’s a joy to train and like a lot of Australia’s (progeny) he has a very good mind,” the Newmarket handler said on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.

“For us he’s very exciting. He’s done his final piece of work and hopefully we can get there (York) in one piece and enjoy the day.”

Connections went to 350,000 guineas to purchase Canberra Legend as a yearling and Ferguson revealed it did not take him long to realise he could be a bit special.

He added: “It’s no secret that Mr Ho (owner) spent a lot of money to buy this horse and I was very grateful he decided to send the horse to me.

Trainer James Ferguson at York
Trainer James Ferguson at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We realised pretty soon when he came to the yard that he had a bit of presence about him. He was a big two-year-old and was never going to be a sharp, early type.

“You have this horse in your yard and you hope to God that he’s as good as you think he is. More often than not it doesn’t go so well, but when he won at Newcastle it was a relief.

“Stepping up from a novice to a Listed race is quite a big step, but I didn’t want to fit in another novice with a penalty on the all-weather and we had confidence in the horse.

“The Feilden Stakes is a proven race for good horses, it seemed a good option, we took our chance and thank God it went right.”

Having been pleased with his colt since his Newmarket triumph, Ferguson admits he will need to put up a big show at York if he is to head to Epsom.

He said: “I’ve given him two pieces of work since, he’s worked on the Limekilns and he’s worked on the Al Bahathri (gallops). Michael Hills sat on him both times and having ridden well over a thousand winners, he knows what he’s doing.

“Being realistic, I think to go to Epsom, with the trials that we’ve seen so far, I’d like to see him run well (at York).

“The most important thing is that he comes back safe and sound, we know we’ve got a good horse and whatever happens in the Dante he’s won a very good trial in the Feilden.

“I would like to see him win or place well to enable us to go to Epsom, if not we’ll think about going to France (French Derby) or straight to Ascot.”



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