3 minute read
Racing and Sports preview the 2021 Dante Stakes from York.
The 2021 Dante Stakes looks a hugely competitive and interesting affair on the second day of York's festival that carries it's name.
Chief interest is in the early favourite, and long time early favourite for The Derby, High Definition who looked the part winning the Beresford Stakes at his second start last season, snatching it late on with a powerful close that made him look certain to relish longer trips this season.
He gets that here, and the stable have started the season in fine form, which all leaves his profile fairly obvious. Too obvious perhaps. While it is being widely accepted that his Beresford win was one of a future star it must be noted that the win came some 10 lengths slower than fellow boom horse Santa Barbara over the same course earlier on the card. The second horse has since put up a nice effort/time behind the subsquent Guineas winner and all things considered High Definition must be a very decent chance of winning the Dante. But at prices inside 2/1 it's hard to make a case for him being a bet.
Gear Up looks a very worthy challenger having already a Group One winner at the trip having landed the Criterium at St Cloud last season.
That can be a weak Group One, no doubt, but four of the six behind him have come out and won stakes races this season - third and fifth having impressively won key Derby Trials in France and Ireland respectively. It looks a meaningful piece of form and Gear Up has a pair of York wins to his name as well, the Acomb the pick of those which he won in good time.
At prices as big as 6/1 Gear Up is a more appealing gamble than the favourite and the other key market hope Hurricane Lane who was fast home beating Maximal at Newbury, that one having since run well at Chester, and seems sure to prove up to what typically runs a place here but not so sure to prove up to the typical winning standard.
The other little concern, and it is only a little one, is that Charlie Appleby has had quite a few win or run well this season before failing to back it up next time out. Hurricane Lane certainly won't be able to go backwards on his Newbury effort and play a part in what is a strong looking Dante.
Recommended Bets: Back Gear Up in the Dante