York Dante Meeting 2016: Day Three Preview

The undoubted highlight on the third and final day of the Dante Meeting at York is the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over a mile and three-quarters. Some good stayers have won the race this century but not since Kayf Tara in 2000 has the winner gone on to success in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (Classic Cliche and Celeric achieved the same double in the late 1990s), which is a stat standing in the way of the likes of Flying Officer and Clever Cookie (pictured finishing first and second in last autumn's Long Distance Cup at Ascot, Flying Office carrying white silks). Four of the runners in the latest Yorkshire Cup met in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot 16 days ago, where Clever Cookie finished second, just ahead of Flying Officer, with Suegioo in fourth and Glaring in seventh of the nine runners. Flying Officer is weighted to come out best of that quartet here (he conceded weight all round in the Sagaro) and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop back from two miles either, so he looks sure to be on the premises.

However, Flying Officer could struggle against Second Step who represents the same stable (Luca Cumani) that saddled Mizzou to win the aforementioned Sagaro Stakes (for the second year running). Second Step won a German Group 1 over a mile and a half last term and, while he finished a well-held fourth to Order of St George in the Irish St Leger on only his only previous try over this distance, that race probably didn't show him to best effect as had to work harder than most to get into a challenging position. Second Step can boast form that’s verging on high class, and we also know he goes well fresh having won on his return for the past two years, landing the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on his first start of 2015. Interestingly, he's the only one of the runners in this race who doesn’t hold a Gold Cup entry (though he’s in the Coronation Cup at Epsom). 

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The first listed race on the card is the Marygate Stakes for two-year-old fillies over five furlongs. This race often provides clues for Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, and Ceiling Kitty won both races in 2012, while Tiggy Wiggy finished runner-up in both races in 2014. Tiggy Wiggy's connections are represented by Stormy Clouds this year, and this filly finished in the same Kempton maiden Tiggy Wiggy won her debut before winning both her starts since. She's clearly of interest here, though it's doubtful she'll have things all her own way given their are some promising fillies in opposition. 

One of them is certainly Boater who made a winning debut in the other division of that Kempton maiden contested by Stormy Clouds (Stormy Clouds' division was actually won by a filly who represents the same connections as Boater in Chupalla). Boater is bred to be sharp as she's by champion Australian two-year-old Helmet out of a half-sister to Norfolk Stakes winner Warm Heart, and she looks to have Royal Ascot potential herself. Most of the rest of the field are open to improvement too, including Perfect Madge who was a big eye-catcher when a fast-finishing second to Fiery Character in a maiden at Newmarket on her debut. 

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The other listed race is the Michael Seely Stakes for three-year-old fillies over a mile. Future Group 1 winner Chachamaidee won this race in 2010, but the winners since haven't been able to emulate her, with last year's heroine Sperry coming up short in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on her only subsequent start. Top rated for this year's race is Nemoralia who does have form at the highest level having finished a close third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on her final outing last term.

Given his record with fillies it's no surprise that Sir Michael Stoute has won this race a few times, and his Thetis looks a plausible winner after finishing runner-up to Wednesday's Musidora Stakes third Promising Run in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket when last seen last autumn. Czabo is stepping up into this class for the first time having won a competitive handicap against the boys on her return.