MIDTERM headed up the eighteen horses at Friday’s confirmation stage for next Thursday’s £160,000 Betfred Dante Stakes at York – and connections are looking forward to their impeccably-bred colt lining up in the “definitive Derby trial”.
Owned and homebred by Prince Khalid Abdulla, his dam is the six-time Group One-winning Juddmonte Farms mare, Midday. The impressive colt has won both of his career starts to date.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the son of leading stallion Galileo, was victorious on his debut in a Newbury maiden last October before winning on his seasonal bow in a Group 3 at Sandown last month. He showed a good attitude in knuckling down to land the Classic Trial by a length and a half from Algometer.
It was a win that strengthened his position at the head of the market for the Investec Derby and he is currently a 3/1 chance with Betfred. But before a date at Epsom, Midterm must face the challenge of the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes.
The race’s reputation as the pre-eminent Derby trial was boosted again only 12 months ago when Golden Horn led home stable-mate Jack Hobbs – a result that was repeated in the Blue Riband in Surrey, making the champion the tenth winner of the Knavesmire/Epsom double.
Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager at Juddmonte Farms, said: “We were very pleased with Midterm’s reappearance in the Classic Trial at Sandown.
“He has always been a hard horse to gauge because he does very little in his homework but wakes up at the racecourse. Obviously, this is another big step for him and we are looking forward to the race.
“He will need to come on and improve. It is going to be a good test for him.
“I’ve always considered it the definitive Derby trial. You only have to look back to last year to see how true that is with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs. But you can go back a lot further – there is a list of illustrious winners of the Dante.”
Midterm’s two wins to date have come when the going has been on the slow side and he may face a quicker surface next week after drying conditions this week. But Lord Grimthorpe feels that the colt will prove just as effective on fast ground.
He said: “He has done well with a bit of cut in the ground. He has got a very good, smooth action so I would think he would suit fast going as well.”
Workforce, for the same connections as Midterm, finished second in the 2010 Betfred Dante Stakes before going onto glory in the Derby.
Arabian Queen is the star name in the Betfred Middleton Stakes, which will also take place on the Knavesmire next Thursday. The 2015 Juddmonte International Stakes winner is amongst ten fillies and mares to remain in the Group 2 race at the latest confirmation stage.
York’s season-opening Dante Festival runs from Wednesday 11 May to Friday 13 May inclusive.