Excitement builds for Dante Festival
WILLIAM Derby is predicting ‘fantastic racing’ at the Dante Festival as the sporting spotlight falls on York this week.
York chief executive and clerk of the course Derby is looking forward to the Knavesmire’s opening action of the season.
He said: “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.”
Early rain showers this week would ensure perfect conditions for the course’s key Classic trials.
Derby said: “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.
“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.”
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 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 threeday 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-yearold, 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.
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 runnerup Bluestocking.