True Story can deliver in the Dante

True Story faces just five rivals as he puts his Investec Derby credentials on the line in today’s Dante Stakes at York (2.45), and is fully expected to come through the test with flying colours.

The Saeed bin Suroor trained colt looked potentially top class on his return to action in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket when sauntering clear to win by seven lengths from Obliterator.
The son of Manduro pulled hard in the early stages before eventually settling in midfield, and after being ridden to lead approaching the final furlong strode clear up the hill to win going away.

It was a most taking performance which oozed class, and the fourth home Barley Mow, who was beaten over 13 lengths, has since come out and won a Listed race at Newamrket to give the form a boost.

True Story, who will this afternoon by partnered by the in-form Kieren Fallon for the first time, goes into this contest rated 8lb and upwards clear of his five rivals and it will be a major surprise if he does not prevail in a race which has produced four Derby winners since the turn of the century.

North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) all completed the Dante/Derby double, and Workforce went on to triumph at Epsom in record time having been readily brushed aside by Cape Blanco in the 2010 running of this race.

True Story is currently the 11/2 second favourite with Coral to follow in their footsteps in the 1m 4f colt’s classic on Saturday, June 7th.

The only two rivals that look to have any chance of lowering his colours this afternoon are Arod and Bunker.

The former is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam who saddled Authorised to win the race in 2007.

That horse went on to score in good style in the Derby, and Arod looked a very useful prospect when winning a Windsor maiden by five lengths.

The son of Teofilio put in a remarkable performance, racing very keenly from the front from an early stage but finding plenty at the business end of affairs to pull clear and win easing down.

Although this contest represents a huge step up in class, Arod clearly has a huge engine and bags of untapped potential. He is currently 33/1 with Coral for the Investec Derby.
The Richard Hannon trained Bunker won two of his three starts as a juevnile, and got the better of subsequent French 2,000 Guineas winner Karakontie in a Listed race at Deauville in the last of those.