The Niarcho Family’s Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York on May 18. His addition brings the potential field to 14 runners.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the Wood Ditton Maiden S. winner will follow the path of last year’s G1 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the Dante en route to Classic honours at Epsom. Connections paid £14,000 to supplement Passenger, who was scratched from the Listed Dee S. at Chester earlier this week due to ground concerns. The Betfred Derby will take place on Saturday, June 3, and Stoute’s colt would also need to be supplemented to that contest, if all goes well on the Knavesmire.
Other entries for the York feature include Listed Blue Riband Trial hero Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) from John and Thady Gosden, Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby, and Dear My Friend (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) from the Charlie Johnston yard.
“We’ve got lots of excited owners on our hands at the moment,” said Middleham Park’s Mike Prince of Listed Burradon S. winner Dear My Friend. “Very much the dream is still alive! We’ll have a big crowd there next Thursday and they’re just really excited, just to see how his season develops. The syndicate were absolutely delighted with his run at Newcastle–the form is working out nicely.
“Him and Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) had a ding-dong battle in the final furlong but he was quite comfortably on top in the last 100 yards and looked to be extending away.
“He’s got a lovely, long stride on him and we think that stride-length will come into play when we step him up to a mile and two. We’re pretty adamant that the step up in trip will suit him.”
Never to be discounted in a Classic prep is Aidan O’Brien, who has both the stakes-winning Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) and two-for-two Continuous (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) entered, while John Murphy’s G3 Ballysax S. hero White Birch (GB) (Uyllses {Ire}) is another possible starter. Listed winner Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G2 Royal Lodge S. hero The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and the Group 3-placed Dancing Magic (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), are also signed on.
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