2011 Dante Stakes Preview Part One

The key annual prep for the Group 1 Epsom Derby is set to run at York this Saturday and it looks to be a bit of a dogfight amongst the top three contenders as they battle it out for the favourites position. The bookies don't seem to see a huge amount between them all but the exchange market shows a bit of a gulf with Carlton House (Street Cry) just a bit behind Seville (Galileo) and World Domination (Empire Maker). 
 

Carlton House, owned by the Queen, seems to be getting the bulk of support as punters expect him to build heavily on his very likable performance in a Div II contest to close out his two-year-old campaign. He outran a field of 18 by a whopping nine length margin. Several from that race have gone on to win and it really looks to be a more credible victory by the day. 
 

Sir Michael Stoute is no stranger to Dante glory and he captured this contest with Tartan Bearer just three years back with Ryan Moore also aboard that one. He also took it in 2001 with Dilshan and 2004 with North Light. The Queen has never won the Epsom Derby and a win here would certainly have her confident of avenging the tough beat that Aureole took back in 1954. 
 

The gamble on Carlton House seems to be that disposing of higher-calibre maiden company can translate to a talented selection of group winners. It's certainly not out of the question but some punters might balk at placing win-only bets at 2/1 with this one having just the solitary maiden win. 
 

I was backing World Domination when he rewarded at 3/1 in a maiden contest at Newbury. He showed plenty of acumen tracking the leaders and then responding emphatically to Juddmonte's preferred jock Tom Queally when asked for just a bit more. He went on to win it by nearly 4 lengths against a field of 14. That's no easy task but his pedigree indicates that he is every bit a potential Derby winner. Representing the Unbridled line, his sire won the Belmont Stakes after being one of the rare American contenders to win the Florida Derby and the Wood Memorial. He placed second to Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby and was retired after being beaten by 1/4 length in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes by Strong Hope. His mother was an American-bred who ran in the UK and won at Epsom over a 1m4f distance. She was a Group 1 and Group 3 winner at Ascot and Doncaster. While his father is better known for producing top class milers there is plenty of distance on dam side and she adds several very strong references. 
 

The big question about World Domination is whether he's going to be ready to fulfill that potential at the age of three or whether he will blossom on the handicap division at four. If he picks up a Group 1 win this season, and that looks likely at this stage, he will more than likely be Dubai-bound in 2012. There's a good chance that they see him as a new Twice Over (Observatory) and I expect his career to be campaigned similarly if he can match the success of that high-profile globetrotting horse. 
 

The Dante Stakes has been a kingmaker in the past and the 2010 edition was won by the talented Cape Blanco (Galileo) who used the race as a seasonal debut after running undefeated in three attempts at two. It was the first goal in a hat-trick of Group 1 victories as he managed to add the Irish Derby and the Tattersall's Irish Millions Champions Stakes. 
 

Seville will also be using this contest as a seasonal debut and he looked fairly good in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy last year year, running second by less than a length to the talented Casamento (Shamardal) who did his best in the 2000 Guineas but was absolutely no match for the mighty Frankel (Galileo). He's put in three very good shifts but I actually consider him to be the weaker of three betting favourites in this one.
Obviously, being a Galileo, he is built for the distance and shouldn't struggle to pick up the extra panels but I'm not sure if his two year-old form was good enough to warrant such a short price without having seen him racing at three. The gloss came off Casamento a bit in the Gunieas as he finished off the board.