Rain is threat to Cracksman
John Gosden could pull favourite Cracksman out of this afternoon’s key Betfred dante stakes after torrential rain at York turned the ground soft. Gosden — who won the Tattersalls Musidora stakes with shutter speed yesterday — is concerned that Cracksman, an unbeaten son of Frankel, might have too tough a race with the derby only 16 days later.
Cracksman, who like Gosden’s 2015 dante and derby winner Golden horn carries the colours of owner sir Anthony oppenheimer, lacks experience having only run twice, most recently when winning the Investec derby Trial at epsom last month. If he pulled out here, Gosden has the option to take him to epsom to work around Tattenham Corner during Tuesday’s Breakfast With The stars morning.
Gosden said: ‘It’s tight. Because easter was late this year, our racing has been shoved a week later but the derby is still on the first saturday in June (3rd).
‘I would have genuine concerns. Cracksman is in great form but noone is going to have an easy race out there and then you have 16 days.’
Addressing whether a lack of another trial run before the derby would leave Cracksman short of experience, Gosden added: ‘since he ran at epsom, he is very logged on. he knows what he is doing. Frankly, I wish the derby was tomorrow.’
The dante stakes is a crucial derby trial for Godolphin, their four horse entry headed by Wolf Country, while sir Michael stoute runs well-backed nottingham maiden winner Crystal ocean. Joseph o’Brien saddles Rekindling, winner of the Ballysax stakes at Leopardstown from subsequent derrinstown stud derby Trial winner douglas Macarthur.
Meanwhile, Gosden will rely on Cheshire oaks winner enable and Prix saint-Alary third Coronet in the Investec oaks with shutter speed sticking to 10 furlongs and heading to the French oaks. The 4-7 favourite was nursed to a length-and-threequarter win from Vintage Folly without Frankie dettori getting serious.
Gosden said: ‘she hated the ground but has got the class to win anyway.’
William haggas looks to have a top sprinter on his hands in Tasleet, who won the Group Two duke of York stakes under Jim Crowley.
Injury had kept Tasleet off the course since he won the 2016 Greenham stakes at newbury. The colt is 14-1 for the diamond Jubilee stakes at Royal Ascot.