Item storms home in the Dante

One of the least-exposed in the line-up for Thursday's (14th May) Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York, Juddmonte's unbeaten Frankel colt Item flagged up his Epsom prospects when powering to success in the time-honoured Derby trial.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 15th May 2026, by Tom Frary:

Held up early by Colin Keane, the keen-going son of the Gr.1 Natalma Stakes winner Capla Temptress moved smoothly to the long-time leader Action (Frankel) a furlong out and forged on for an authoritative two and three-quarter-length success. There was another length and three-quarters back to the other Ballydoyle runner Christmas Day in third.

Confined to Kempton and Bath at two, Item was taking a significant leap forward here to being up a Group-race double for the Andrew Balding stable on the card after See The Fire in the preceding Middleton. Colin Keane, who had also partnered the operation's Legacy Link to success in the previous day's Musidora, has two live Epsom mounts now.

"He was slow to come to hand earlier in the year, but I had loved him when I sat on him before he went to Kempton on his debut and he had felt like a nice horse," he said. "That was a fair performance today - he was a little bit fresh in my hands but then got into a nice rhythm."

"When I got to Wayne [Lordan], I thought I'd go away but he pricked his ears, had a bit of a look and ran about a bit," he added. "He was entitled to that on only his third run. I don't think the Derby trip will be a problem and he's a well-balanced horse, so it looks like the next step. For a big colt, he's very relaxed in his demeanour, so that's one box ticked."

Juddmonte's Racing Manager Barry Mahon added: "He does his work nicely but is not flash at home, so we came in here a little bit unsure. The Epsom Derby is one of the best races in the world, we want to be there and let's hope we are. Juddmonte is there to compete at the top table and we breed these horses to compete in the best races."