15:10 York 13 May 2021
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes
Group 2 | Class 1 | 3YO only
Winner £93,572 - 10 ran
raced wide early, tracked leaders, went 2nd 8f out, tracked leader who went well clear halfway, closed gradually when ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied to challenge over 1f out, led final 110 yards, stayed on well
held up off the pace towards rear, headway and went prominent in chasing group 3f out, hung left from over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, 2f, headed and outstayed final 110 yards
held up well off the pace towards rear, laboured headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd final 100 yards, never going pace to reach leaders
rearing in stalls, led set strong pace and went clear halfway, ridden and reduced lead when wandered over 1f out, headed and weakened inside final furlong
dwelt, soon mid-division on inside, headway and went prominent in chasing group over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard and prominent, weakened final 2f
held up well off the pace towards rear, never on terms
raced keenly, soon steadied into mid-division, weakened final 2f
slowly into stride, raced keenly and always towards rear, eased when no chance over 1f out
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £6.77 |
| CSF | £68.47 (6, 7) |
| Tricast | £160.20 (6, 7, 5) |
| Win | £5.40 (6) |
| Place | £1.70 (6), £3.30 (7), £1.30 (5) |
| Swinger | £2.40 (5, 6), £5.90 (5, 7), £9.90 (6, 7) |
| Exacta | £67.40 (6, 7) |
| Trifecta | £234.30 (6, 7, 5) |
Expert Analysis
A most interesting Dante Stakes, often one of the better British trials for The Derby, though it has not produced the winner at Epsom since Golden Horn (ran to a rating of 119 in this and 125 in The Derby) doubled up in 2015.
This edition drew the winter favourite for The Derby, an unbeaten Godolphin contender, and a Group 1 winner in France as a two-year-old, plus others with legitimate claims. The form looks solid more than spectacular, backed up by a good timefigure after the Ballydoyle second string set a decent pace and briefly slipped the field, the first, third and possibly fifth all still looking as if there may be a bit more to come.
HURRICANE LANE (113 here, 104 previously) took another significant step forward, seeming well suited by a truer-run race than previously in putting down a marker for The Derby itself, likely to need to find a few more lengths to win that but promising to be at least as good at 12f as at this well-run 10.25f (by Frankel, out of a 16f winner). He settled nicely tracking the pace, was rousted along over 3f out and stayed on steadily for stronger pressure to get to the front with about 1f to go, pushed out vigorously. He has raced only on good going or softer to date and has a good attitude to go with decidedly smart ability.
MEGALLAN (112 here, 105 previously) almost certainly ran his best race yet, despite the extended 10f probably being far enough for him in the end (by Kingman, out of a 10f-winning half-sister to Golden Horn), racing in midfield before making headway 2f out, disputing the lead briefly 1f later then one paced. Good three-year-olds are rather thin on the ground in France at present but historical standards suggest it would need a 116 rating (a couple of lengths better than Megallan seemed to run to here) to win the Prix du Jockey at Chantilly – his reported next target – in an average year.
HIGH DEFINITION (109 here and previously) should still be viewed positively, including for The Derby at Epsom, not good enough to win that on what he has done so far but a likely improver at 12f+ especially given this was his reappearance following a slight setback which meant he missed the Lingfield Derby Trial just a few days before. He raced in mid-field and a bit wide, was rousted along fully 4f out and still had only 1 or 2 behind him 2f later before staying on as his stamina finally booted in. The Derby is more of a test than often appreciated, providing the pace is good, and the likelihood is that Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet as well as of High Definition, will try to ensure that occurs. High Definition won both his races at two on soft going, including the 8f Beresford Stakes with a strong late run.
ROMAN EMPIRE (105 here, 89 previously) excelled himself with pace-making duties, but had only three previous appearances (all on softer than this) and helped pull the Dante field to a good overall time, so the improvement should be accepted for now. He soon led, went a few lengths clear mid-race and set sail for home with 4f to go, looking like taking some catching until hanging right, headed 1f out and weakening.
GEAR UP (102 here, 110 previously) possibly needs more of a test already, a bit slowly into his stride but in touch, disputing second briefly 3f out then one paced. He got the run of things up front to a degree when winning the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (10f, heavy, with Bolshoi Ballet back in fifth) last year but should confirm himself to be smart another day.
PYTHAGORAS (101 here, 98 previously) ran at least as well as could be expected despite being set plenty to do, no further headway in the final 1f.
FLYING VISIT (94 here, 106 previously) got away with 10f behind Bolshoi Ballet in a steadily run Ballysax but did not here, pulling too hard and finding little.
BELLOCCIO (92 here, 96 previously) has cut little ice in classic trials this year, but was a listed winner (at Toulouse) at two and has shown enough to suggest he will again be competitive at that sort of level.
ROYAL CHAMPION (83 here, 92+ previously) was flying even higher here and failed to confirm the promise of his Newmarket run, finding little.
UNCLE BRYN (66 here, 99 previously) was not far back in the main group approaching 2f out, if under pressure, but seemed to go wrong soon after.
