Sunday, 3 May 2009: While attention turns to Newmarket in anticipation of the first two Classics of the season, the stanjames.com 2,000 and stanjames.com 1,000 Guineas, the connections of many horses will have one eye on the future, with several key trials for both the Oaks and the Derby taking place in the next two weeks.
The totesport.com Dante Stakes, run over 10 furlongs at York on Thursday, May 14, boasts a superb record as a trial for potential Derby winners. North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) all followed up success on the Knavesmire with Classic victory at Epsom Downs, while last year's Dante victor Tartan Bearer went on to be the half-length second to New Approach in racing's Blue Riband.
This year's renewal looks once again to be a hugely informative contest, with leading ante-post fancy Crowded House set to take his chance. The Brian Meehan-trained colt is due to be joined in the Group Two race by the Queen's Four Winds, whose trainer Michael Bell saddled Motivator to York and Epsom glory four years ago.
The home-bred Red Ransom colt was third on his debut to leading 2,000 Guineas contender Delegator at Newmarket in August prior to taking a Sandown maiden in good style the following month.
He ended his juvenile campaign with a pleasing third to fellow Derby entry Kite Wood in the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Ascot in October and made his seasonal return at Newbury on April 17, when he was second to the Barry Hills-trained Oaks hopeful High Heeled on soft ground.
John Warren, racing manager to the Queen, revealed: “On the day, there was natural disappointment over Four Winds getting beaten at Newbury because we would have hoped that if he was top-notch then he should have been able to beat that field - they were a nice bunch of horses but, if you are a Group One horse, you should deal with them pretty comprehensively.
“Having said that, there were a couple of things against him on that occasion, particularly the ground which was Michael's main concern. None of us like making excuses for horses but he doesn't want that type of ground again.
“We are interested in knowing how good High Heeled is. She was second to Rainbow View on her debut and she could be a very good filly. We might look back and say although it was disappointing to get beaten at the time, that filly has gone on to be a very smart prospect.
“We have two options with Four Winds. We could run him in a mile conditions race, which is too short for him, but there are no 10-furlong conditions races between now and Epsom.
“Alternatively, we could run him in the totesport Dante and find out where we sit in relation to the other Derby contenders. Although we wouldn't expect him to win after his last run, it would help us guide us as to his future races.
“So the Dante is the preferred option as long as the ground is not too soft. If the ground is too soft, then we will have top run him over a mile and aim him at Royal Ascot for the Hampton Court Stakes.”
While Four Winds is set to put his Derby credentials on the line at York, another of the Queen's Epsom contenders, Free Agent, could make his seasonal reappearance in the extended 10-furlong Group Three Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester on Friday, May 8. The race has previously been won by Oath (1999) and Kris Kin (2003), who both went on to Derby glory.
The son of Dr Fong, another home-bred and trained by Richard Hannon, beat subsequent Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Donativum in a Leicester maiden in June and followed up with a sweeping victory in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, before a chipped hock ended his season.
Warren continued: “A decision about where we start off the season with Free Agent will be made at the early on next week and there is a probability that he will go to Chester for the Dee Stakes on Friday.
“He chipped a little flake off one of his hocks last season and there was no point in hurrying him back. He has taken his time over the winter to get his coat and was behind some of Richard's horses because we didn't need him to be a 2,000 Guineas horse. I am hoping that we are all set for the Dee Stakes next week.”
Other major upcoming Derby trials include the Group Three Virgin Money Chester Vase on Thursday, May 7, the totesport.com Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday, May 9 and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown the following day, which has been won in recent years by Epsom victors Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) and could this year feature leading Derby contender Fame And Glory.
The fillies will also be putting their Oaks' aspirations to the test over the next two weeks, beginning with the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday. Ouija Board took the 10-furlong contest en route to victory at Epsom Downs in 2004 and this year's race is set to feature the Queen's Golden Stream, who took a Newmarket maiden in record time in August for Sir Michael Stoute before she ended her season when fifth behind 1,000 Guineas favourite Rainbow View in the Group One Fillies'
Mile at Ascot in September.
Warren added: “Golden Stream is running in the Pretty Polly Stakes and we are expecting her to run very well. She looks marvellous and she looks as though she has trained on very well. The Queen saw her work nicely alongside Enticement about 10 days ago and Golden Stream is on target for Sunday.
“She was in season when she ran in the Fillies' Mile. She jumped off, ran a bit free early on and did the donkey work for the rest of the field. We hope that she can leave that run behind.”
The Queen's other Oaks contender is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Enticement, who was a rare purchase for Her Majesty at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales in October, 2007.
After making a winning debut in a mile maiden at Nottingham at the start of October, the daughter of Montjeu followed up the next month with a game victory in the a Listed contest over the same trip at Newmarket.
Warren said: “Enticement is likely to run in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on May 13 and then I think that after both races we will have learned a considerable amount more about both her and Golden Stream.
“The Oaks is obviously the ultimate option for both fillies at the moment but I think the decisions of who goes to Epsom and who goes to Royal Ascot for the Ribblesdale Stakes will unfold themselves.
“For all of us racing fanatics, all of the pictures become clearer whenever there is a trial and there is an anticipation of who is up for the Classics and who isn't.
“A horse that has won his maiden as a two-year-old but you didn't have a high regard for suddenly bursts onto the scene and the whole complexity
of the Derby and the Oaks changes.
“The Queen has been following her horses very closely and she has been completely involved in all of the decision making. She has seen all of her Classic contenders over the past couple of weeks and she is not just informed, but informed in great detail.”
The next scratchings deadline for both the Derby and the Oaks is at 12 noon on Thursday, May 21.
