Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes |
|
|
| Group 2, York 16:05 £180,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1  |
||
|
||
Saxon Street could take the next significant step towards Epsom when he lines up here on Thursday.
The unbeaten Saxon Street (Saxon Warrior) lands Listed honours on his return, running out a good winner of the @Betfred Blue Riband Trial Stakes for @WilliamBuickX and John and Thady Gosden @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/B51kavguf7
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2026
The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt has already enhanced his Derby credentials with victory in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and now looks set to bid for further progression in one of the season’s most influential Classic trials.
Owned by Marc Chan, Saxon Street has made rapid strides in a short space of time, following an encouraging debut success at Chelmsford with a polished display around Epsom’s demanding contours.
The Clarehaven team has an outstanding recent record in the Dante, with the likes of Golden Horn, Wings Of Desire and Roaring Lion all using the York contest as a springboard to major honours, and connections are hopeful Saxon Street can continue that trend.
“He won nicely first time at Chelmsford,” said Thady Gosden.
“It was probably a slightly unusual route to go straight to the Blue Riband, but it had been moved back a week and it was very nice ground.
“He seemed in good order with himself and did very well at Epsom, he seemed to have come forward a lot for his first start.
“All being well he will go to the Dante, that will be the plan. It will only be his third start, the experience will do him the world of good and hopefully he will run a nice race there.”
Saxon Street is joined among the possible runners by stablemates Guildmaster and Wise Prince, the latter having made a solid start to his season when third in Sandown’s Classic Trial.
Aidan O’Brien, surprisingly without a Dante winner since 2010, could rely on Pierre Bonnard, who advertised his Derby credentials with victory in the Ballysax Stakes. Ballydoyle’s potential team also includes Christmas Day, Action, Amadeus Mozart and Italy.
Charlie Appleby has several entries headed by Al Zanati, who finished second in the Sandown trial, alongside 2000 Guineas runner King’s Trail and Maho Bay, although the latter is due to run at Lingfield beforehand.
Item, trained by Andrew Balding, arrives unbeaten from his juvenile campaign and remains a colt of considerable interest, while William Haggas’ Morshdi created a striking impression when winning the Fielden Stakes at Newmarket and now redirects here after missing Chester’s Dee Stakes.
With Derby hopefuls, Group One performers and several rapidly improving middle-distance horses set to converge on the Knavesmire, York’s Dante meeting once again looks poised to provide some of the clearest clues yet for the major races of the summer.
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)
£180,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
12 remaining entries
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
Previous Winners
