We all have or ways of greeting the summer, and even if the
Dante meeting hasn’t been as good as some would have hopes weather-wise, the racing
steps up a gear today. Dalakla hasn’t been quite as good as her first three
easy wins suggested, notably her impressive Group 3 success before her Prix De
Diane fifth, but she showed her class once again in the Royalieu at Longchamp
when winning a well contested sprint finish, beating Shirocco Star amongst
others in a race that became a wind up late on, which is something that gives
major reassurance in the makeup of today’s race, which is likely to be slowly
run.
This is much less testing than anything she’s faced so far,
and with the advantage of a recent run over Cubanita and Starscope, she looks
to have a standout chance in today’s Middleton Stakes (2.15).
With Epsom fast approaching and Dawn Approach still a firm
favourite, the Derby picture is now well developed, but the Dante has been the
best 3yo trial of recent seasons and a closely matched, if not all that strong
on recent achievements. The form pair of the race from this end are Secret
Number, who was so impressive when making up ground four wide in one of the
slowest races to be run at Meydan, making up 6 lengths in the straight, and
Trading Leather, who didn’t enjoy soft ground in the Racing Post trophy but who
has had his form in winning the Autumn Stakes boosted by the runner up and third
this season. Both are tempting at 8 and 6/1 respectively, but the worry is that
they’d be on their best on a properly fast racing surface, and while the ground
is drying, it’s unlikely there’ll be much zip on the Knavesmire.
The huge sales race at Newmarket at the beginning of the
season is a key form guide, with Windhoek fancied to hold form with Greatwood
on account of his superior fitness now in comparison to where the two where
then, and Ghuair on account of superior talent. None make standout appeal
however, and favourite Indian Chief – who has been beaten only by Loch Garman
(a Group 1 winner and second to Battle of Marengo) in two runs, and who won
well upon a reappearance for which he promises to improve, has to be given a
fair chance of completing a nap hand of trials for Ballydoyle. Whether he is
capable of landing this and the showpiece remains to be seen, but there may be
considerable mileage in 20/1 quotes should he win.
Advice
1 pt win Indian Chief, 2.45 York (3/1 general)
1 pt win Dalakala, 2.15 York (5/2 general)
1 pt each/way Indian Chief, Derby, (20/1 general)
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