YESTERDAY’S Musidora Stakes winner Joviality may not have made the Investec Oaks picture any clearer. But today’s totesport Dante Stakes could have the opposite effect on the Derby.
The three colts at the head of the betting for the Investec Derby clash in what is traditionally one of the key trials for the Epsom Classic.
And Henry Cecil’s World Domination will put his reputation on the line against Aidan O’Brien’s Seville and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Carlton House.
Cecil’s son of the stable’s 1997 Oaks heroine Reams Of Verse didn’t race as a juvenile, but was highly regarded.
And he confirmed the positive vibes when cruising to glory in a Newbury maiden last month.
He is currently the 9-2 favourite with Boylesports and Sportingbet for the Derby at Epsom on June 4.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to World Domination’s owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “He’s pleased us and he’s got a good lot to prove to make sure he’s a Derby horse. But the way he trains, the way he’s run and of course his pedigree will help that to happen.
“Of course his name lends itself to people thinking he’s going to be a great champion.
“He’s got to go and win now – that is the downside of it! We very much hope he’s better than a maiden winner, but this is what these trials are here to find out.”
Cecil added: “I am happy with him. He has just recovered from a bruised foot but I’m pleased with his work at home.
“It’s asking a lot of him for the second race of his life to be the Dante but we’ll know a lot more afterwards.”
In opposition Seville looks to add to O’Brien’s burgeoning Derby armoury.
Recital landed the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at the weekend, but Seville is a similar price in the betting for the Derby to his stable-mate.
Last year’s second in the Racing Post Trophy is a best-priced 7-1 with bet365, Blue Square, Boylesports and Paddy Power.
And O’Brien said: “Seville is a lovely, laid-back horse. He was always a Derby type horse.
“We were never going to go another route with him.
“He’s in good form, he’s just ready to start and I’m looking forward to seeing him run.”
Meanwhile, Joviality’s narrow win over Barefoot Lady in the Musidora shed little light on next month’s Oaks.
After the race trainer John Gosden said that the Princess Haya of Jordan-owned filly would miss the Fillies’ Classic and will instead go for the French version over an extended 10 furlongs at Chantilly.
Gosden said: “Barefoot Lady wasn’t going to go away – she was like a terrier and came back again. We got lucky on the nod, but we really like the way our horse has developed this spring.
“That’s probably the limit of her stamina. She got headed where I stood and then came back on the line.
“She was definitely beaten 25 yards before the line. The first two are very nice fillies.
“We’re delighted with her. I’ve always liked her. I didn’t bring her from a maiden to this race just for fun.
“We’ll now look at taking her to Chantilly for the French Oaks.”
Paul Hanagan was aboard the Richard Fahey-trained Barefoot Lady, who had been fifth to Oaks favourite Blue Bunting in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas earlier this month.
Fahey said: “She just got outbattled but Paul (Hanagan) said she tried very hard and she did everything right.
“We’ll give her a break now as she’s had a pretty tough time of late.”
YORK DAY TWO PREDICTIONS: 1.30pm Falasteen, 2pm Midday, 2.30pm Seville (NAP), 3pm St Moritz, 3.35pm Margot Did 4.10pm Giorgio’s Dragon, 4.45pm Blackmore.
