Project Dante can claim July honours
Project Dante can show how unlucky he was at Royal Ascot by underlining his class in the Tattersalls July Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.
Bryan Smart’s youngster was denied a clear run in the final two furlongs and had to be switched to the stands rail to make his challenge.
He finished strongly, but the winning post came a couple of strides too soon and he was third, beaten a neck and a nose by Perfect Power and Go Bears Go in the Norfolk Stakes. The winner has not run since, but the runnerup has franked the form by landing the Group Two Railway Stakes in some style at the Curragh.
Project Dante was inexperienced going to the Royal meeting, having just had the one start. That had gone to plan as he lived up to his name by making a winning debut York’s Dante meeting.
The best is surely yet to come from the Showcasing colt. Stowell can confirm he is a smart young staying prospect with victory in the Bah- rain Trophy.
The Zoffany colt took the eye when third in Queen’s Vase at the Royal meeting on only his third career start.
He was some way behind turning home when stepping up from a mile and a half to a mile and three-quarters – but he stayed on really well to snatch minor honours behind Kemari and Wordsworth. The latter did not let the form down when third in the Irish Derby.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Stowell can carry on his progression to lift this Group Three prize.
Al Aasy can win the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and gain compensation for his narrow defeat by Pyledriver at Epsom.
William Haggas’ progressive four-year-old only succumbed by a neck in the Coronation Cup after a dingdong battle with William Muir and Chris Grassick’s talented performer.
He had won both his previous races this season and has surely not stopped improving – next stop after this should be the King George.
Maximal should prove hard to beat in the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes after justifying his place in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot when fourth to Poetic Flare. The drop to a mile suited the Sir Michael Stoutetrained colt, but it must not be forgotten he ran subsequent Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane to a length at Newbury on his seasonal debut in April.
Boomshalaa can go one better in the Each-Way Extra At bet365 Heritage Handicap after his fine run at the Royal fixture. Dropping down to five furlongs, the Roger Variantrained three-year-old failed by just a head to catch Significantly in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap.