Cracksman after his Derby ticket
CRACKSMAN, Frankie Dettori’s expected ride in the Investec Derby, is hoping to book his ticket for Epsom by taking Thursday’s Dante Stakes at York.
Dettori, denied victory on Rivet in yesterday’s French 2,000 Guineas when third behind Brametot, believes Cracksman is better than his recent outing suggests.
“He jumped OK, got a nice position and in the end it was a three-furlong sprint which did not suit him,” said Dettori after the colt beat Permain a short-head at Epsom last month.
“But at least he learned how to quicken down the hill, get out of trouble and go past other horses so it was a very good educational run.”
Cracksman, the 7-1 third favourite for next month’s Derby, will be hoping to follow in the hoof prints of Dettori’s latest Derby winner Golden Horn.
Two years ago the John Gosden-trained Golden Horn won the Dante before conquering the Epsom Downs.
Gosden, also responsible for Cracksman, said: “I am very happy with him and he has come on a lot from Epsom. The form got a nice boost when Permian won a listed race at Newmarket.
“He has been in great form since the Epsom race and he has come on a lot mentally. He learned an awful lot as that was only his second run.”
Yesterday the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean was all the rage for both the Dante and the Derby.
Paul Binfield, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “We’ve seen good money for him in the Dante and Derby this morning.
“He is now 7-2 for the Dante, behind Cracksman a 7-4 chance, and 16-1 for the Derby.”
At the Curragh yesterday Acapulco made a successful Irish debut in the Sole Power Sprint Stakes.
The filly was a top juvenile when trained in America by Wesley Ward, winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot in 2015, but has now been switched to Aidan O’Brien.