There is always something a bit special about the York Dante meeting. It feels like the Flat season suddenly grows up. The Guineas are done, Royal Ascot is on the horizon, and York becomes the place where Derby dreams either catch fire or quietly disappear.
The meeting starts today on the Knavesmire and as ever, it brings together classy juveniles, smart sprinters, Oaks hopefuls and Derby contenders across three days of proper racing. York itself has long been one of the fairest tracks in Britain, a wide galloping course where hard-luck stories are harder to manufacture and good horses usually get their chance.
The centrepiece is obviously the Dante Stakes run on Thursday, and it has earned its reputation as one of the strongest Derby trials in Europe. Since 2000, more Derby winners have come through the Dante than any other recognised British or Irish trial. Golden Horn, Desert Crown and Authorized all used York as the springboard to Epsom glory, while horses like Roaring Lion and Hurricane Lane advertised just how much class is needed to win it.
The next three days of premium racing.
The race itself is named after the great Yorkshire-trained colt Dante, who won the Derby in 1945 and remains something of a northern racing icon.
Today we have the Musidora Stakes, one of the key Oaks trials and regularly throws up top-class fillies. Sariska, The Fugue and Star Of Seville all came through the race before becoming elite middle-distance performers. It is often a fascinating betting race because some fillies arrive with flashy reputations while others improve massively for the step up in trip.
Today also features the newly renamed Minster Stakes - York's big sprint feature over six furlongs - and with the Dante the highlight on Thursday, Friday rounds things off with the Yorkshire Cup, one of the premier staying races in the British calendar. It is the sort of contest that appeals to proper racing fans because it usually attracts hardened stayers rather than fashionable hype horses.
Over the years it has become an important early-season marker for the staying division and now forms part of the British Champions Series.
Who to look out for?
As for this year's horses being talked up by those in the know, there are already a few names getting plenty of attention. In the Musidora, Felicitas has been strongly mentioned in previews and tipping columns, with some analysts believing she could develop into a genuine Oaks contender if she handles York well. Legacy Link is another filly attracting support from judges who like progressive profiles at this stage of the season.
It isn't often an O'Brien and Moore runner isn't one of the first favs for a race such as this so I would take Moments Of Joy to relish the step up in trip on this flat, open track, at around 5/1 - 11/2 currently.
For the Dante itself, another O'Brien / Moore runner, Christmas Day is a horse generating serious noise and several early previews have highlighted him as a colt with the right blend of stamina and tactical speed for York. The probable winner in my book who is likley to shorten considerably for the Derby if he wins impressively.
One today to highlight in the 5.15 mile and a half handicap is Minhad. Drawn well - if not too slowly away - in form and a good claimer takes seven pounds off, for a horse that would probably be shorter if trained by a bigger yard. About 9/1 as it stands now but I feel it may lengthen nearer the off but we will see.
Being such a fair, honest track, a good number of horses are in with a chance most of the time and whilst the meeting has a slightly different atmosphere to Royal Ascot or Glorious Goodwood, there is still plenty of prestige and quality, but it still feels like a racing crowd first and foremost.
Serious punters love York because of the quality and how open some of the large handicap races can be. Racing fans love it because so many future stars announce themselves there creating an immedite 'buzz'.
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