Tuscan Hills puts Derby claims to test in Dante Stakes

Raphael Freire is preparing to test the mettle of Tuscan Hills, with his unbeaten star in line to meet Aidan O’Brien’s Betfred Derby favourite The Lion In Winter and the supplemented Alpine Trail in Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York.

Tuscan Hills won both starts at two, including a Listed event at Pontefract, and he is one of 14 confirmations for the Derby trial along with Acomb Stakes winner The Lion In Winter and Charlie Appleby’s Alpine Trail, who was an impressive Newmarket Stakes victor.

Brazilian-born Freire is excited to step up in trip with the star resident of his new Freemason Lodge base, despite a question mark over conditions.

“York is the plan and unless something goes wrong, that is where we will be headed,” said Freire, who is the primary trainer in Britain for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation.

“We know he is a lot more effective on slower ground but it doesn’t look like we will be getting that anytime soon, so we are going to take our chance and see how he does on quicker ground.

“He did win on quick ground on debut at Thirsk but obviously that was a minor event. At the moment you don’t get to pick your ground, so we will just have a go at the Dante.

“I think it was always going to be the case he would step up in trip this year and the recipe is there, a two-year-old who can win over a mile on slow ground, he is always going to want a little bit further at three and he has shaped that way.

“I think he will be a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half horse.”

Along with The Lion In Winter, O’Brien also has Scandinavia and Trinity College, who lost out by a narrow margin to Simon and Ed Crisford’s Sea Scout at Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial and could get the chance to gain revenge.

Wimbledon Hawkeye, who finished fifth in the 2000 Guineas, is also confirmed despite connections previously stating they are likely to head straight to the Derby.

John and Thady Gosden have given themselves the option of running Sandown Classic Trial third Damysus, Feilden Stakes third Nightwalker and the Godolphin-owned Devil’s Advocate, with Ralph Beckett another with multiple entries, Pride of Arras and Newmarket winner Seacruiser both possible for the Kimpton Down handler.

Andrew Balding’s Royal Playwright and Ed Walker’s Mr Rizz complete the 14 contenders, with the latter opening his account in taking fashion at Doncaster recently.

Walker said: “It’s a big ask and a big step into the Dante, but he’s bred for the job and he was bought for the job.

“He’s finished second and first in his only two starts and we’re there to put him in against good horses and see how he gets on.

“We believe he belongs higher than another novice grade of race and he wasn’t bought to be a handicapper, so we’ll see where we are.

“I think he’s more of a Prix du Jockey Club than a Derby horse. He’s got stacks of speed, hence I started him over a mile. I know you need speed to win a Derby, but I just feel he’s more of a 10-furlong horse than a 12-furlong horse.”

In the supporting Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes it is Balding’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe favourite Kalpana that tops the 12 confirmations as she bids to follow the ‘Bluestocking route’ to ParisLongchamp.

Appleby also added a supplementary to the Group Three contest, adding Beautiful Love following her third place in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket.