Overview
- Item, who captured the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday, extended his perfect record and was cut to 6-1 for the Betfred Derby.
- Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Colin Keane, the Juddmonte homebred reeled in Aidan O’Brien’s front-running Action, with Christmas Day, the 11-4 favourite, back in third.
- Keane said the colt felt like he would stay further, and Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon said they want to run in the Derby.
- The win followed Juddmonte’s Musidora success on Wednesday with Legacy Link, who is now a leading Oaks prospect.
- The Dante is Britain’s last major Derby trial, and past winners often progress to Classic success, so these results are driving late decisions and betting moves for Epsom.