Dante Stakes: Derby talking horse Desert Crown 'only just ready' says Stoute

Thursday: 3.35 YorkAl Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) | 1m2½f | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

The market vibes suggest everything has gone like clockwork for Derby talking horse Desert Crown, but trainer Sir Michael Stoute has described the colt as only just ready for his return in the Dante.

With so few Derby contenders putting down a serious marker in the recent trials and Luxembourg out of the picture, Desert Crown's odds have tumbled from 33-1 before the 2,000 Guineas to 6-1 second favourite behind Stone Age.

That major ante-post gamble has occurred with Desert Crown standing in his box and a little over six months after an impressive debut victory at Nottingham on soft ground, the son of Nathaniel gets the chance to show all the conjecture is not misplaced.

However, Stoute revealed preparations for Britain's premier Derby trial have not gone totally smoothly for a horse who is "workmanlike" at home.

"We're only just up for a race and that's why he hasn't run yet – because he had a minor hiccup, which has delayed the start of his season. We've only just got him there ready to go to the races," the trainer said.

Dante analysis: 'Desert Crown is not any old maiden winner - he could go right to the top' (£)

"He's not a spectacular home worker and he surprised us when he won at Nottingham last year. His work here has been workmanlike but he's a very talked-about horse."

Richard Kingscote, who became Stoute's go-to jockey last season and rode Desert Crown on his debut, said: "He won as you'd have liked him to first time out, but it's been a long time since then.

"He seems to have done well from two to three and this is going to be a big learning curve for all of us. He's a nice horse and I'm looking forward to it."

More joy for horse who beat Derby favourite?

El Bodegon received a timely form boost before testing his Classic claims when Stone Age propelled himself to Derby favouritism with a dominant display at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The James Ferguson-trained colt beat Stone Age in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final juvenile start and also had recent Listed Tetrarch Stakes winner Buckaroo back in fourth.

El Bodegon: winner of last year's Criterium de Saint-CloudCredit: Scott Burton

"It's always nice going into a race when you've beaten the favourite for the Derby and that race in France was fantastic, with everything working out with the form," said Ferguson.

"We like the horse and we think he's in good nick. He's only ever run on soft ground but that's only because he ran on it so well and there's nothing that has shown me he doesn't handle good ground."

Future star for Stradivarius team?

A day before supreme stayer Stradivarius returns as an eight-year-old in the Yorkshire Cup, connections will be looking to Magisterial to emerge as a future star.

The Gosden stable are responsible for the most recent Dante winner to achieve Derby glory in Golden Horn in 2015 and the Bjorn Nielsen-owned Magisterial comes into the race on the back of success at Leicester last month.

"He won his maiden at Haydock last year and won his novice under a penalty at Leicester, so this is another step up," said joint-trainer John Gosden.

"Like many in the race, he's a progressive type and this will tell us whether he's a Derby horse or one for something like the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He should be suited by the track and deserves to take his chance."

What the rest say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Bluegrass
We think he has come forward nicely from his run in the Ballysax and we're looking forward to seeing how he measures up in the Dante.

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Dark Moon Rising
He wants ten furlongs and we're going to let him take his chance. He has the scope to keep improving. He picked up a nice pot at Chelmsford and they went a crawl and then sprinted at Newcastle and he loves a strong pace.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Kingmax
He's a lovely horse and won impressively when taking a mile novice at Kempton in March and we had to see if he was a Guineas horse and ran him in the Craven Stakes. He travelled better than any of them and finished fourth, which was a good effort, but he clearly needed further. He's been working nicely since.

Royal Patronage: runs for connections who won the Dante with Thunderous in 2020Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Harry Herbert, chairman and managing director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, owners of Royal Patronage
It seems a sensible spot to go to try and get a clearer idea of whether he's a Derby horse. He ran perfectly well in the Guineas but was too fresh and overraced. He's reported to be in great shape since and has won the Acomb here. If he settles nicely and gets into a rhythm, we think he's a very high-class horse. He has a proper chance on all known form.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of White Wolf
He won nicely at Southwell and I like the way he looks and how he trains. This is a big step up to a Group 2 but he's improving all the time and we wanted to give him a chance at this level. I've been very happy with him and this trip should be no problem.

York day two previews:

2.25 York: Can Ger Lyons break British losing streak with Thunder Kiss in Middleton?

3.00: Trainer quotes for some of the leading contenders in the big mile handicap

Dante analysis: 'Desert Crown is not any old maiden winner - he could go right to the top' (£)

4.10 York: Is there another Winter Power in this Listed sprint for three-year-olds?

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