The result of the Group 2 Dante Stakes has been thoroughly dissected ahead of the Derby, with three of the top-four re-opposing in the Epsom Classic.
Andrew Balding's The Foxes came out on top by a neck from White Birch, with Passenger dead-heading for third. Passenger suffered a troubled passage through the race and the market reflects general opinion about his finishing position if he had experienced a clear run – he is widely available at 6/1 compared to The Foxe's 12/1.
Frankie Dettori will be hoping for a fairytale victory on his final ride in the race, after announcing he would be retiring at the end of the 2023 season. He has a willing partner for the task in Arrest, who was a six-and-a-half length winner of the Group 3 Chester Vase on soft ground.
The Frankel colt did win on good-to-firm ground as a juvenile and looks a strong prospect for the Italian jockey.
Half-brother to 2021 Derby hero Adayar, Military Order will be hoping to defy trainer Charlie Appleby's recent dip in form (13% in last fourteen days). He was a four-length winner of a ten furlong novice stakes at Newmarket before winning the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes in less impressive style, beating Waipiro by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
He is clearly a talented individual who should enjoy the additional stamina test.
It will be an incredible piece of training to get Auguste Rodin back to winning ways in the Derby, but if anyone can do it, it's Aidan O'Brien. Winner of the Group 1 Vertem Futurity as a juvenile, the colt was touted as a possible Triple Crown contender but disappointed on reappearance when down the field in the 2000 Guineas.
Out of the three Classics he would have contested in the Triple Crown, pedigree would suggest that this would be the most suitable.
In an open year, a couple of horses have been overlooked. Charlie Johnston's Dubai Mile is going to relish the stamina test, having won the ten furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud on heavy ground as a juvenile, beating Arrest by a head.
He returned with a very credible fifth in the Group 1 2000 Guineas over a distance short of ideal and the distinctive camber of Epsom Downs is unlikely to phase a colt who has raced at five different tracks in six career starts.
Another potential dark horse in the field is the O'Brien second string, San Antonio. Winner of a Dundalk maiden on seasonal reappearance, the Dubawi colt improved to take the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
He is out of Rain Goddess, who finished second in Enable's Irish Oaks and it wouldn't be the first time that an Aidan O'Brien favourite has been overturned by a longer priced stablemate.
WIN: DUBAI MILE
PLACE: SAN ANTONIO
