York Racecourse

Dante Stakes 2012

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Camelot On Course for Seasonal Debut in Dante
04/04/12

The Group 2 Dante Stakes which takes place over ten furlongs at York on May 17th has consolidated its reputation as the leading Epsom Derby Trial with the announcement that this year's entry list which includes the current Epsom Derby favourite, Camelot.

Camelot
© Caroline Norris

There is of course a chance that Camelot, who was so impressive when winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy last October, will take his chance in the first Colts classic, the 2000 Guineas on 5th May at Newmarket but O’Brien there is no doubt that this son of the late Montjeu is a stayer in the making and the Dante would make sense for the seasonal debut of the 5/2 Derby favourite, especially since it is a race that O'Brien regards highly as an Epsom trial having won the race three out of the last six years.

Noble Mission, the highly regarded brother of Frankel is one of two entries from the Henry Cecil yard, the other being the equally highly thought of Wrotham Heath. Both are said to have come on leaps and bounds over the winter and their seasonal debuts are eagerly awaited by connections and both are rated as 33/1 shots for the Epsom Classic.

Parish Hall
© Racehorse Photos

The 2011 Dewhurst Stakes winner, Parish Hall is an entry for the Jim Bolger stable from Ireland, a stable that has won the Derby but has yet to visit the winners enclosure in the Dante but this son of Teofilo has to be respected judged on his last outing as a juvenile and is currently the 16/1 third favourite for the Derby.

There have been eight Derby winners who successfully won the Dante en route to Epsom Glory since 1976, including three of the last eight winners and also Workforce ran in the Dante two years ago but could only finish second to Cape Blanco before reversing the form at Epsom.

Despite 76 entries remaining in the race which takes place on 17th May, there is little doubt that the 2012 renewal will once again prove vital clues to the Derby in June and all eyes will be on this year's Ballydoyle "talking horse" Camelot and whether he can live up to the hype currently surrounding him and after the death of his sire last week, it would be fitting if he did confirm his reputation, starting at York!