Bolger happy with Trading Leather Trading Leather will bid to strengthen trainer Jim Bolger's hand for the Investec Derby when he contests the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. Bolger already has the market leader for British Flat racing's showpiece in the shape of unbeaten colt Dawn Approach. His powerful stable also contains the Group 1-winning Loch Garman, who was second to Battle of Marengo in last Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. But Bolger is not looking beyond the Group 2 feature on the Knavesmire at present for Trading Leather. The Teofilo colt, out of a Sinndar mare, was a high-class two-year-old winning the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. He was unable to reproduce a similar level of form on soft ground at Doncaster in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, landed by Kingsbarns. And Bolger is keeping his fingers crossed that the rain stays away from York where the going description was given as 'Good to Firm' this morning. He said: "Everything has gone well with Trading Leather. I'm very happy with him. He needs good ground, that's all. Hopefully, there won't be any significant rain. "I think the step up in trip will suit him. He got the mile well last year and I think he will get a mile and a quarter." Trading Leather will face eight rivals in the £150,000 Group 2, including the unbeaten Windhoek and the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Secret Number, who was last seen finishing third in the UAE Derby at Meydan.
