RACING:AIDAN O'BRIEN hoovered up a trio of Derby trials last week and will try to continue that level of form into today's Totesport Dante Stakes at York with Freemantle appearing to be the Ballydoyle number one against Crowded House.
The Racing Post Trophy winner is currently the sole British-trained contender among the first five horses in ante-post betting for the Derby but an impressive victory today could propel Crowded House past both Fame And Glory and Sea The Stars in the markets.
The Dante has produced four subsequent Derby winners in the last decade – Authorized (2007), Motivator (2005), North Light (2004) and Benny The Dip (1999) – but it has also proved a happy hunting ground for O’Brien.
Ireland’s champion trainer has been successful with Septimus (2206) and Saratoga Springs (1998) in the past and pitches two colts into today’s Group Two highlight with Johnny Murtagh teaming up with Freemantle.
The Galileo colt hasn’t been seen since winning a Tipperary maiden by 10 lengths last October and is currently a general 25 to 1 shot for Epsom. In contrast High Chaparral’s brother, Black Bear Island, is half those odds in some lists, and has already had a run this season when third in the Prix La Force.
“In fairness everywhere had heavy ground at that time of year when Freemantle won his maiden and he had John Oxx’s horse (Sea The Stars) behind him on his first start when he was third at the Curragh when it was good fast ground,” O’Brien said yesterday.
Black Bear Island was second in that hugely significant maiden last July and his jockey Colm O’Donoghue will be hoping to score another success after Golden Sword’s 25 to 1 upset in last week’s Chester Vase.
“He has been fine since his run in France and we’re hoping they both run well,” added O’Brien who last week also landed the Lingfield Trial with Age Of Aquarius and the Derrinstown Trial with new Derby favourite, Fame And Glory.
“Obviously we were very happy with how he did it at Leopardstown and he seems to be fine since,” the trainer reported yesterday.
Crowded House’s jockey Jamie Spencer can’t wait to team up with the colt who he guided to a spectacular Group One success last season. “He gave me the feel of a top-class horse the last day. He has always been a smart horse but it is time to step up to the plate,” the former champion jockey said yesterday.
“He has grown up a lot. I think that is the thing he has done over the winter. He’s a lot more relaxed, very chilled out,” Spencer added before dismissing concerns about stamina. “His half-brother won a handicap at Royal Ascot so there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree.”
Sea The Stars’ jockey, Mick Kinane, will get a handle on today’s Dante form having been booked by Jeremy Noseda to ride Sans Frontiers while the in-form Barry Hills team are represented by the Fielden winner Redwood.
