York’s curtain raising meeting is set to kick off this week as Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon looks ahead to the team’s runners.
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes is the showpiece contest, and the unbeaten Item is a confirmed runner after pleasing in recent work. The son of Frankel was two-from-two last season, creating a strong impression on debut at Kempton. He backed that up under a penalty at Bath, marking himself as a colt to follow.
Andrew Balding’s colt will potentially face Aidan O’Brien’s Ballysax winner, who’s seen that form franked healthily. Chester non-runner Morshdi may well be re-routed here, and the unbeaten Saxon Street is likely to feature.
Barry Mahon told the Racing Post: “Item is on track for the Dante. He worked well on Sunday morning. He’s won two small races and it’s going to be a big step up. But he’s in good form and we’re ready to rock and roll. He’s grown into a big, scopey horse. That’s why he’s taken a bit of time to come to hand in the spring. That’s why we sat with him.
“Up until Sunday morning we were 50-50 for the Dante. But he worked well so I think Andrew is happy to kick on. The track and trip should suit him, and we just hope he’s of that standard.”
Legacy Link to bolster Gosden’s Musidora record
John Gosden is one win off the joint Musidora winning record, and Legacy Link is in pole position. “Legacy Link is in good form and the Musidora has been her plan the whole way along” said Mahon. John and Thady Gosden are happy with her, and she should have no issue with the trip or the track. So she’s a filly we’re looking forward to.
“If you look back at the Fillies’ Mile, the form is obviously working out well. She hit the line very strong that day. So from then on we were looking at stepping up to ten furlongs. Whether she’ll get 12, we’re not certain, but we think ten will bring about improvement.”
Red Letter the Juddmonte selection in Middleton Fillies’ Stakes
Kalpana and Red Letter were both entered in the Middleton Fillies’ Stakes, but the latter is the likely contender. Mahon stated: “Kalpana is probably more likely to go to Newbury on Saturday for the Aston Park. I’d say Red Letter will hopefully run in the Middleton at York.
Juddmonte won the race with subsequent Arc heroine Bluestocking, though pedigree would suggest that Longchamp is unlikely to be on the cards for Red Letter.