Dante Festival: Stradivarius is on familiar path

CHAMPION stayer Stradivarius – the mount of Frankie Dettori – is among 12 remaining entries for the Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday, the final day of the Dante Festival.
Jockey Frankie Dettori jumps from Stradivarius after winning the MansionBet Yorkshire Cup at the 2018 Dante Festival at York (Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire).Jockey Frankie Dettori jumps from Stradivarius after winning the MansionBet Yorkshire Cup at the 2018 Dante Festival at York (Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire).
Jockey Frankie Dettori jumps from Stradivarius after winning the MansionBet Yorkshire Cup at the 2018 Dante Festival at York (Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire).

John Gosden is sticking to a tried and trusted route with last year’s winner, who sets the standard among the current crop of stayers.

The brilliant chestnut enjoyed a flawless season, following up his victory in the Yorkshire Cup last year with wins in the Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cup, the Lonsdale Cup and Champions Day glory.

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In the process he won the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million and if he begins his season with a win another tilt at the £1m bonus is on the cards.

Aidan O’Brien has left in 2017 Irish Derby hero Capri and Southern France.

Perhaps the chief threat could come from Middleham trainer Mark Johnston’s Dee Ex Bee, second in the Derby last year and an impressive winner of the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his comeback under William Buick. Stablemate Mildenberger could also run.

Veteran trainer Henry Candy will assess ground conditions on the Knavesmire this morning before deciding to declare former Group One-winning sprinter Limato for Wednesday’s Duke of York Stakes.

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“I’m delighted with the way he looks and he’s certainly retained all of his old enthusiasm – he’s in great form,” said Candy.

“As ever with Limato, him running is entirely ground dependent. He scrambled home on good to soft ground in the Garrowby at York last year and he didn’t like it much.”

Roger Varian is looking forward to running Surfman in Thursday’s Dante Stake – the last recognised trial for the Epsom Derby on June 1.

Sired by champion miler Kingman, Varian’s colt was a runaway winner at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance and the trainer is relishing the prospect of taking on proven Group One winners like Too Darn Hot and Line Of Duty.

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“We’ve always held him in the highest regard and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that he’s as good as we think he might be,” said Varian.

On the Newcastle triumph, he observed: “He beat a poor field, let’s be honest. He didn’t beat a lot, but he beat them 14 lengths on the bridle, and it did the horse good to get out there – get an away-day from Newmarket.

“We didn’t learn much about him – we knew he was a nice horse and he proved he was a nice horse.

“But we didn’t learn how nice he is. His next start, we will do.”

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Epsom’s Coronation Cup, a Group One race over the Derby course for older horses, is once again the aim for Salouen after a straightforward win in the Buckhounds Stakes at Ascot.

Sylvester Kirk’s stable star pushed Cracksman all the way in the Group One last year and ran well in the Arc, but he arrived with only two wins from 22 runs to his name.

Against three rivals, Oisin Murphy kept things simple and he drew further and further clear in the straight.

“I was really impressed with that as I thought he might need the run,” said Kirk. “It looks like he’s come back in great form which is important.”

Hambleton trainer Kevin Ryan’s globetrotting filly East, second at last year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting in America, was third on her seasonal reappearance in the French 1000 Guineas at ParisLongchamp.