Features / Timeform / 14 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Timeform share their perspective entries on an informative renewal of the Dante Stakes...

"Cape Blanco had gone rather unconsidered as a Derby contender despite having taken a prestigious route in his three juvenile outings, following the likes of Teofilo and New Approach by winning the Tyros Stakes before the Futurity when last seen in August, and he emerged on the scene for Epsom in style."

A more typical Dante than in 2009, with low numbers but high potential, featuring two that had impressive winning reappearances behind them as well as a pair of unbeaten colts, and, encouragingly, it was one of the latter, Cape Blanco, who maintained his record and greatly enhanced his credentials with an emphatic win, his performance not just significantly ahead of any other British trial winner but bordering on being good enough for Epsom, especially in what seems an open year, though stablemate St Nicholas Abbey still heads the market; Circumvent ensured a sound gallop and they were stretched once Cape Blanco took control approaching the last two furlongs, Chabal clearly not right but the second and third continuing their own development.

Cape Blanco had gone rather unconsidered as a Derby contender despite having taken a prestigious route in his three juvenile outings, following the likes of Teofilo and New Approach by winning the Tyros Stakes before the Futurity when last seen in August, and he emerged on the scene for Epsom in style, his performance way ahead of any other trial winner in Britain or Ireland this spring, value for even more than the bare margin given the ease of it, and in the process he answered any stamina doubts, showing speed and accelaration to assert but still strong at the finish without being fully extended; a lengthy colt, he looked well without being hard fit, which undoubtedly enhances his potential further; it was reported after that Cape Blanco banged his heel in the build up to this (bandaged in front) and it was aggravated in the race itself, leading to doubts about his participation at Epsom, though the trainer stated that it seemed nothing major.

Workforce remains a top prospect, his Goodwood maiden win last season hugely impressive (strong form) and fast-tracked to a Group 2 for his reappearance, which is testament to how highly he's thought of, and he enhanced his profile in defeat while showing signs of inexperience, hanging when ridden as the pace increased (the bit was later reported to have slipped through his mouth) but fully responsive at the finish, leaving the impression that twelve furlongs will suit; he's a strong, imposing colt with a fine demeanour (took eye and very relaxed in preliminaries).

Coordinated Cut's Derby aspirations took a blow, having the edge of a run over the first two and still not good enough, though it did confirm the improvement he's made over the winter and there are more good races to be won with him this season; he travelled smoothly to take over around 3f out and stuck to his task without being able to match the winner's turn of foot; twelve furlongs should be no problem.

Chabal 's Sandown win was given a boost by Azmeel at Chester the previous week but was in nothing like the same form himself, all presumably not well given how far out he was beaten, not persevered with in the last two furlongs; his participation in the Derby is now in doubt, and he'd have a lot to prove if he was to turn up.

Circumvent was out of his depth first and foremost, though something seemed to go wrong when hampered slightly around two furlongs out (eased).

Tags: Cape Blanco, Chabal, Coordinated Cut, Dante, Workforce