O’Sullevan has fingers crossed for Royal win in main event

EVEN the great form connoisseur Sir Peter O’Sullevan cannot separate the rival chances of Seville, World Domination and Carlton House, the three market leaders for today’s totesport Dante Stakes.

“I do have a wish, and that is Carlton House prevails for Her Majesty,” says the ‘Voice of Racing’.

“It would be wonderful, after all she has done for our great sport, that she could win the Dante and then the Epsom Derby.”

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Still thriving in his 94th year, O’Sullevan recalls Her Majesty’s quiet dignity when her horse, Aureole, was denied by the Norman Bertie-trained Pinza, ridden by Sir Gordon Richards, in 1953 – Coronation year.

“She said ‘Congratulations, Mr Bertie, on winning the Derby’. He said by way of response ‘Congratulations, Your Majesty, on winning the world’. She was the Kate Middleton of that time,” explained Sir Peter.

He also recalls the Royal response when The Queen’s Dunfermline won the Epsom Oaks in 1977 – Silver Jubilee year.

“The Queen Mother said she was so glad that the race was on the BBC because ITV would have gone to advertisements for cat meat straight afterwards.”

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Carlton House, from the stable of last year’s Derby-winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, faces an uphill task.

In-form Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is quietly confident – a tip in itself – about the prospects of Seville, saying this is “a laid-back horse” who will be suited by York’s test.

Meanwhile Her Majesty’s racing manager John Warren reports that the Dante will be a step up in class for Carlton House – even though his recent work on the Newmarket gallops, and under The Queen’s watchful eye, was encouraging.

“Ryan Moore (jockey) was very impressed by the amount of speed the horse had,” said Warren. “Henry Cecil’s horse World Domination has a bit to prove as well, so while you could call it a mini-Derby, there are still enough horses in this field who are on the learning curve.

“That is what makes the Dante such a special trial.

“There is a good, long straight to wind a horse up nicely. We’ll all learn a lot from it. The Queen has had horses for so long and winning the Derby is not something she would concern herself about.”