Gm, Equinauts

It was the girls go yesterday… the boys today. It’s Dante day!

The Dante is one of racings most important trials for the Derby giving 3yo colts a final major test before stepping up to the Epsom’s longer distance.

Recent winners include PRIDE OF ARRAS, ECONOMICS, THE FOXES, DESERT CROWN and HURRICANE LANE. Several used the race as a springboard to Classic success: DESERT CROWN went on to win the Derby in 2022, while HURRICANE LANE later landed the Irish Derby.

Earlier Dante winners such as GOLDEN HORN and AUTHORIZED also completed the Dante–Derby double and have gone on to be the worlds best jumps sires.

The Dante has produced Derby winners in the double digits, making it one of the strongest predictive trials in the British Flat season.

And todays line up is excellent.

Let’s dive in.

BIG RACE PREVIEWS

15.30 1M 2F GROUP 2 MIDDLETON FILLIES’ STAKES

SEE THE FIRE absolutely hosed up in this last year. Since then, she’s been up against it in 4x Group 1’s only to then romp home in a Listed race on seasonal reappearance last month.

Today’s race looks a little harder than last years but is it!? The bookies are pricing her up in fear of the the same repeat.

DIAMOND RAIN was busy in the latter part of last season having had runs in Canada and the US. Her last run in the UK was a win at Group 3 level and looked good stretching clear at Newcastle. She’s a big mare who probably will be better now as a 5yo but the yard are in stinking form you can’t back them until they have a winner again.

We wrote about FALLEN ANGEL last week but this looks almost certain to be a prep run for the Group 1 mile races ahead of her. Plus, Burke isn’t in the best form yet.

RED LETTER completes the field and despite her being a classy mare, every thing in her pedigree suggests she needs dropping back to a mile.

Verdict: Considering Godolphin’s DIAMOND RAIN hails from out of form yard and Burkes probably needs the run, we’re absolutely all over SEE THE FIRE here.

16.05 1M 2F DANTE STAKES

It be Christmas come early for Ballydoyle backers today should CHRISTMAS DAY oblige. By CAMELOT, he’s out of a mare who produced RA winning MISSED THE CUT. She herself was a useful horse over a trip rated in the high 90’s. His recent bit of hard work last Friday at home as very good.

MORSHDI was pulled from Chester when Shaggas et al thought the ground was too unsafe to race. He’s not the biggest horse in the world but he’s fast and reportedly Shaggas’ best 3yo.

ACTION has had a prep run - he was sent off heavy odds on that day and we can see why the market favoured him, his 2yo form behind BOW ECHO and HUMIDITY is brilliant! He is by FRANKEL out of 5f mare so although this trip might not suit, he is a half to LAMBOURN! There was a seriously strong message for ACTION at Sandown and that will need to be remembered… it pays to remember messages whilst being forgiving! More, ACTION has stuffed CHRISTMAS DAY in the past.

ITEM is unbeaten for Balding, his last race was over a mile. His pedigree is lovely but not full of milers so this trip is an unknown.

KINGS TRAIL reps Godolphin who look a bit under the weather at the moment. He’s by super sire SEA THE STARS and out of a mare who stayed more than a mile. He was 9th in the Guineas and the form is hard to weigh up given they were all so far behind BOW ECHO.

AL ZANATI is seeing a bit of support. He finished ahead of WISE PRINCE and ACTION in Sandown’s Classic Trial. We think he can hold the form against WISE PRINCE but if ACTION sorts himself out then he could reverse it. Here is that race:

GUILDMASTER needed the run at Newmarket when we backed MAHO BAY but there were whispers for him that day which suggests he’s a good horse. Hell of a drifter today which is bearish.

Verdict: The messages for MORSHDI the last day were huge but we wonder if he’s best at a mile given his size. On that basis it’s really hard to oppose CHRISTMAS DAY. We’re not strong on him though and shan’t be betting. Watching only.

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