The day after Juddmonte Farms unleashed Epsom Oaks contender Legacy Link to win the Group III Musidora Stakes at York, the same colours were carried to victory in the Group II York Dante Stakes (1m 2 ½ f) by undefeated Frankel colt Item.
Trained by Andrew Balding, Item had two runs last year winning modest races at Kempton and Bath in September and was reappearing for the first time since then.
Ridden by Colin Keane, Item powered clear of a pair of Aidan O’Brien trained colts in Action (Frankel) and Christmas Day (Camelot) to win by a couple of lengths.
“That was brilliant. We just really didn't know [coming into today]. We were hopeful as Item has done some great bits of work. Andrew has really liked him, and we went into the winter dreaming and now the dream continues,” said Anna Lisa Balding.
“It would be amazing to have a Derby runner. It's what we all do it for. Andrew has said very publicly he would love to win the Derby.”
Item is a half-sister to stakes-winner Temptable and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from three foals to race from Group I winning Lope de Vega mare Capla Temptress.
He is the third stakes-winner by Frankel bred from a daughter of Lope de Vega with the nick producing five winners from six starters. Interestingly one of those other stakes-winners is this year’s Epsom Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini, who won the Group III Chester Vase.
Frankel has an exceptional crop of three year-olds, which has so far produced seven stakes-winners.
