Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes |
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| Group 2, York 15:45 £192,200 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1  |
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1 Pride Of Arras 18/1
2
Damysus 16/1
3
Wimbledon Hawkeye 7/1
11 ran Distances: 1¼l, 1¾l, nk
Time: 2m 11.56s (slow by 3.26s)
A big-priced winner in the Dante! 🤯
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 15, 2025
Pride Of Arras throws himself into the Derby picture by winning Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @Rossaryan15 | @RalphBeckett pic.twitter.com/EtMy27TFSz
York’s Knavesmire produced a classic twist as Pride Of Arras landed the Epsom Derby trial at 18-1, leaving 8-11 market leader The Lion In Winter floundering. Expected to stride on towards Epsom, the ante-post Derby favourite never quite found his rhythm after a keen tussle with Ryan Moore in the early yards—finishing unplaced, while Ralph Beckett’s newcomer forged clear.
From stall seven under Rossa Ryan, Pride Of Arras stalked the pace before kicking two furlongs out. By the line he’d asserted by a length-and-a-quarter, with Gosden’s Damysus chasing him home and Wimbledon Hawkeye sticking on for third. Overnight, his Derby quote tumbled from 50s to 4-1.
Beckett, who’s also saddled Bluestocking and Westover to Classic glory, was delighted but measured:
“That was everything I hoped for—and more. We’ve been hard on him for experience: schooling at Lambourn, plenty of work on the waters, and you could see he was learning as the race went on. He’ll come on again for this.”
John Gosden, double-placed in the first five with Damysus, Devil’s Advocate and Nightwalker, added:
“All three ran great—especially Damysus. He’ll stay a bit further, I think, but we’ll see.”
And James Owen confirmed Derby ambitions for Wimbledon Hawkeye:
“He’s taken it all in his stride, and if we get quicker ground at Epsom, we’re very much in the mix.”
Pride Of Arras has announced himself as the Dante shock of 2025—and thrown the Derby market into delightful disarray.
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2)
£192,200 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
11 runners
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
NO. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 (9) 111 Alpine Trail 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick
2 (5) 1-3 Damysus 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark
3 (6) 31-6 Devil's Advocate 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Benoit De La Sayette
4 (10) 21 Mister Rizz 3 9-2 Ed Walker Tom Marquand
5 (11) 313-3 Nightwalker 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin
6 (2) 1- Pride Of Arras 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan
7 (8) 1328-3 Royal Playwright 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy
8 (1) 51-1 Sea Scout 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies
9 (4) 11- The Lion In Winter 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore
10 (3) 11- Tuscan Hills 3 9-2 Raphael E Freire David Egan
11 (7) 213-25 Wimbledon Hawkeye 3 9-2 James Owen Hector Crouch
