Classic aspirations on trial as Dante field assembles at York
Seven go forward for the Knavesmire Group Two.
A host of big-race ambitions go on trial in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. All bar two of the seven intended starters hold the Betfred Derby engagement, with the shortest in the ante-post market for Epsom being the Charlie Appleby-trained Ancient Wisdom. A Group One winner in his juvenile year from the Futurity Trophy – a race that is working out well – he represents a Charlie Appleby yard that is already on the Classic scoreboard this season after Notable Speech landed the 2000 Guineas. The Moulton Paddocks handler did state earlier in the week that ground conditions will dictate his participation, however, with the Dubawi colt well-proven with an ease in the ground.It’s Ancient Wisdom who powers to victory in the Group 1 Kameko Futurity at @DoncasterRaces for William Buick and Charlie Appleby! pic.twitter.com/WFkqOOJBrx
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 28, 2023
Like Appleby, fellow Newmarket trainer Roger Varian has enjoyed Classic glory in the early exchanges of 2024, with Elmalka lifting the 1000 Guineas. He has an interesting candidate for Knavesmire honours in the shape of Al Musmak, who could book his ticket to Epsom or the French equivalent at Chantilly. He was in front of Ancient Wisdom when second to 2000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion at Ascot, and rounded off his two-year-old campaign with a fine effort in finishing runner-up to Ghostwriter in the Royal Lodge, form not let down by the winner in the Guineas. Varian said: “I’m looking forward to running him and he’s slightly under the radar but his two-year-old form is very strong. “He finished second to Rosallion at Ascot and that form reads very well. Ancient Wisdom and Roger Teal’s horse (Dancing Gemini) were both in behind that day and that Pat Eddery Stakes reads like a really nice piece of form.
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