Fine Form
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes takes centre stage at York today and Aidan O’Brien looks poised to strike gold with yet another Derby hopeful in the shape of
Christmas Day YO – 4.05
The master of Ballydoyle has not won this leading Epsom trial since saddling Cape Blanco to claim victory in 2010, but Camelot colt Christmas Day heads to the Knavesmire with major claims after winning his last three starts, most recently springing a minor surprise in last month’s Ballysax Stakes.
That form looks solid enough, with his stablemate and runner-up Endorsement going close again in the Leopardstown Derby Trial last weekend, while the winner of that race James J Braddock was only fifth in the Ballysax.
The Dante is one of few Derby trials that has been dominated by British horses in recent years and the home team this time around is headed by the William Haggas-trained Morshdi, who was rerouted to York after missing last week’s Dee Stakes at Chester on account of the ground.
The Dubawi colt was last seen winning a Listed prize at Newmarket, although that form has not exactly been franked since, with the likes of Poseidon’s Warrior and Isaac Newton finishing well beaten since.
Andrew Balding’s Item comes into this unbeaten but takes a step up in both trip and class on his seasonal debut and he faces an uphill task to reach the level already achieved by O’Brien’s race-fit Irish challenger.
Balding is likely to have higher hopes of winning the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, however, with last year’s brilliant winner
See The Fire YO – 3.30
back to defend her crown.
The five-year-old was campaigned exclusively in Group Ones after claiming this Group Two prize by 12 lengths 12 months ago and was placed in races like the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nassau at Goodwood before being beaten a neck in the Prix de l’Opera.
While she was below par at the Breeders’ Cup late in the year, she was eased back into action with a modest Listed win at Nottingham less than three weeks ago and that should leave her spot-on for her return to York.
The British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes for three-year-old sprinters is expected to go the way of
Aspect Island YO – 4.40
The Showcasing colt outran his odds of 33-1 when beaten only two and a quarter lengths into seventh against older horses in the Abernant Stakes over six furlongs last month, his first start since a superb effort to finish third at the Breeders’ Cup.
Going back against his own age group over the minimum distance, he is hard to oppose for the in-form James Owen team.
At Salisbury,
Gallivanted SL – 2.40
looks capable of taking the valuable Al Basti Equiworld Dubai “City Bowl’’ Handicap for Harry Derham.
This dual-purpose son of Galiway has put up two good runs this Flat season, most recently winning at Goodwood 13 days ago.
With just nine lifetime starts under his belt, there should be more improvement in the locker and a revised mark of 83 looks more than workable.
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