Stoute calm ahead of Midterm Dante run Sir Michael Stoute is "not getting carried away" ahead of Midterm's much anticipated Derby trial in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. A son of Galileo out of the brilliant racemare Midday, the three-year-old is certainly bred in the purple. Midterm has upheld family honour admirably thus far, making a successful debut at Newbury on his only appearance at two before getting on top close home on his seasonal reappearance in Sandown's Classic Trial three weeks ago. Stoute's charge is a hot favourite to extend his unbeaten record on the Knavesmire and confirm his place as Britain's leading contender for Epsom, but the master of Freemason Lodge is staying grounded. He said: "He came out of his (Sandown) race in good form but he shows us very little at home. That was the same in his preparation before Newbury, he's never done an impressive bit of work. That's him. "At least we know he does it on the racecourse, he went to Sandown and answered the questions there. "We don't know whether that form is good enough. We've got to come through another trial so it's early days." Stoute, who has saddled five previous Derby winners, said: "Shahrastani and North Light won the Dante, but Workforce got beaten, he had an excuse, though. "We'd welcome a sixth Derby, but we're a long way from that yet. "Of course there's excitement there, but we're not getting carried away." Midterm carries the colours of Khalid Abdullah, who won the Derby for a third time with Stoute's Workforce in 2010. The owner's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, said: "We were very pleased with Midterm's reappearance in the Classic Trial at Sandown. "He has always been a hard horse to gauge because he does very little in his homework but wakes up at the racecourse. Obviously, this is another big step for him and we are looking forward to the race. "He will need to come on and improve. It is going to be a good test for him. "I've always considered it the definitive Derby trial. You only have to look back to last year to see how true that is with Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs. But you can go back a lot further - there is a list of illustrious winners of the Dante. "He has done well with a bit of cut in the ground. He has got a very good, smooth action so I would think he would suit fast going as well."
