Group Two Dante Stakes Guide 2021

High Definition is the big potential eye-catcher in the feature Group Two Dante Stakes on Thursday, with the Ballydoyle Derby hopeful looking to stamp his authority on the division.

This three year old has only been seen twice to date, but was one of the most remembered winners for O'Brien on his debut last season, when landing a maiden event over a mile at The Curragh.

High Definition was then sent into the Group Two Beresford Stakes, a race O'Brien has won 11 of the last 12 years with the likes of Capri, Japan and Saxon Warrior.

The colt was sent off as the favourite for the event and when going for home looked in big trouble being last of the pack, but he put in a superb final few furlongs to get up near the finish

It showed he was a Derby horse in the making getting better the further he went and having been pulled out of his return at Lingfield due to bad bloods, the Dante looks one of his last chances to run before the big one at Epsom.

If going on to perform well on his seasonal debut he will be shorter than 7/1 for the Derby, with that price already larger than the 4/1 he had been at the start of the season.

Gear Up looks to be one of the best British hopes in the field having been remarkable consistent on all four of his starts last term, winning three of his four races.

The three year old made his seasonal debut at York over 7f in a decent maiden and dominated the field late one and then backed that run up over the same course and distance when landing the Group Three Acomb Stakes.

Seeking a hat-trick the son of Teofilo went to Newmarket for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile and was a weak fourth of five.

He put that blip behind him on his final start last term when heading over to France for the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 1m2f and winning the event.

He saw off runners like Makaloun and Bolshoi Ballet that have since gone on to win in good style this season and if improving for being a year older he is a big player.

The lightly raced Royal Champion is thought of very highly by his trainer Roger Varian, who is currently in flying form running at a 29% strike rate.

The son of Shamardal has been seen twice during his career, winning on debut at Newmarket in September over a mile in a Maiden Stakes.

He was then bought back for his first run this term and finished a good third behind the Godolphin pair Highland Avenue and Secret Protector in the Listed Feilden Stakes.

That looks fair form, but he will need to have come on a fair bit for that run stepping up in trip and class for this event.

The Charlie Appleby trained Hurricane Lane is an extremely smart prospect for Godolphin, being seen twice to date and is currently unbeaten.

The three year old son of Frankel made his debut last term at Newmarket in a decent Novice Stakes over a mile on heavy ground and he ran out an easy winner.

Saved for this season, he was stepped up in trip on seasonal debut in a good Conditions Stakes over 10f and again ran out a good winner, doing his best work near the finish.

The form of that race does not look to bad with the second since placing in a better event and the fourth placed runner since winning.

He looks to be highly progressive and at the odds looks the value in the race.

The William Haggas trained Alenquer is a three year old on the up, having made an electric seasonal debut at Sandown over 10f in April.

The 80,000gns purchase as a yearling was smart as a juvenile, racing twice and winning on his debut at Newbury over seven furlongs on soft ground.

He then backed that up on his final start of last term when a fine second at Haydock behind the Richard Hannon trained Fancy Man.

Back as a three year old, he seems to have improved a fair bit and got off the mark on his seasonal debut in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial.

He has some of the strongest form in the race from this season and having won on both good and soft ground he looks a versatile customer.

The first of the John & Thady Gosden trained runner is Megallan who will be ridden by Martin Harley which would suggest he is the second choice of the stables.

The three year old son of Kingman has shown glimpses that he could be a very smart horse and now getting his first try at 10f it could be the making of him.

He started his career in August 2020 winning on debut at Newmarket over a mile and has ran credibly in decent events on turf and the all weather.

Having been tried in the Group One Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on heavy ground in October and running no race, he was given a break and returned in March at Lingfield.

Megallan finished a narrow second in the Listed Spring Cup, when jockey error stopped him from winning the event, but the form of the race has turned out fairly well.

He was then quickly turned out again at Newcastle over a mile in a Listed event and he ran out an easy winner.

Getting back onto turf is interesting and from his form he will not want any rain.

The second of the two Gosden runners is Uncle Bryn who is the choice of Frankie Dettori and the colt will need to improve for his seasonal debut to get involved here.

The son of Sea The Stars made his debut at Kempton over a mile and looked a real talent when pulling away from a decent field.

He was stepped up in trip at Wolverhampton in November and made it two wins from two when bolting up as the 2/9f, loving the extra distance.

Uncle Bryn returned as a three year old this term at Epsom over 1m2f and finished a fair third in a Listed Derby Trial behind the smart Wirko and Technique.

Unfortunately the form of that race has not quite worked out, but he is sure to have improved for that first turf experience and might be an each way player.

The three year old Irish raider for Jim Bolger is Flying Visit, who is looking to extend his great start to the season after landing the 2000 Guineas.

Flying Visit has been frequently raced throughout his career to date, running to a fair standard in weak events in Ireland during his juvenile days.

He returned as a three year old in the Group Three Ballysax Stakes over 1m2f at Leopardstown and was a good second behind the progressive Bolshoi Ballet, who has since massively enhanced the form of that race.

Each way player if improving for a thriving yard.

The disappointing Roman Empire is the big 40/1 outsider of the field, holding so much potential from his pedigree, but he is yet to show he can compete at this level.

The son of Galileo made his debut in July 2020 finishing fourth of six in a weak maiden, but he backed that up by getting off the mark at the second time of asking when stepped up to a mile on heavy ground.

Saved for a three year old campaign he made his return at Gowran once more and like his juvenile debut looked to need the run.

He is opposable on that run but that looked too bad to be true and he is sure to improve.

The penultimate runner of the event is the Richard Fahey trained Pythagoras, with the trainer in high spirits having landed his 3000th career winner on Tuesday.

The three year old son of Zoffany was seen five times as a juvenile, placing on debut and then winning three decent events, including a Listed event on his final two year old start.

Pythagoras returned for his seasonal debut at Epsom in the same race as Uncle Bryn and finished a narrow fourth behind the Gosden horse.

He will need to improve on that form, but he seemed to enjoy the step up in trip and could maybe squeak a place.

The final runner of the Dante is the David Menuisieur trained Belloccio, who needs to improve from his seasonal debut to get involved here.

The son of Belardo was a smart juvenile for the yard winning both his events in nice style, starting in October at Salisbury over a mile, with the form of the race working out well and then backing that up over in France in a Listed event.

Back this season he finished a fair fifth when up in trip to 1m2f in the Classic Trial and he has to reverse the form with Alenquer to get involved.

Needs to improve.