The Dante Stakes is by far the most recognised of the British Derby trials and, while none of the 10-strong field stood out on form, the latest renewal was full of potential improvers and appeared to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
The winner Permian (up 6 lb to 117) was the most experienced horse in the line-up, but is still improving on this evidence and looks certain to be supplemented for the premier classic. He needs to take another step forward to figure there, but could have more to offer stepping back up in trip and does at least have proven form on the track.
Benbatl (up 3 lb to 115p) has come a long way in a relatively short space of time and made further progress to be beaten just three-quarters of a length. He remains with potential after just three starts and could also head to Epsom now, although he doesn't appear to be crying out for another step up in trip. Crystal Ocean (now 115p from 96P), on the other hand, shaped as if ready to go further in third and could prove to be the best of these moving forward. He is likely to miss Epsom, but looks sure to go on improving and will be of interest if attempting to emulate half-brother Hillstar in the King Edward at Royal Ascot.
Meanwhile, Shutter Speed (remains on 111p) made the most of a good opportunity in the Musidora Stakes on Wednesday, holding off the challenge of Vintage Folly (up 16 lb to 104p) with the minimum of fuss and overcoming concerns about the soft ground in doing so. She would be a major player if allowed to take her chance in the Oaks at Epsom, but her stamina for that test is open to debate, and connections also have the Cheshire Oaks winner Enable. Shutter Speed looks set to run in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly instead.
Earlier on the card, Tasleet (up 9 lb to 123) proved a revelation dropped back to six furlongs for the first time since his two-year-old days in the Duke of York Stakes, the application of cheekpieces and softer ground the most likely catalysts for his very smart performance. He remains unexposed as a sprinter and will obviously be worth his place in Group 1 company next time, although he did have a fitness edge on many here. Magical Memory (up 1 lb to 124) was among those making his seasonal debut in second and shaped as if he will prove at least as good this campaign as he was in the first half of 2016.
Blond Me (up 4 lb to 113) produced a career-best effort to win the Middleton Stakes on Thursday, but her relative speed was an advantage given how the race developed and the form is not expected to hold up. Indeed, the most talented fillies probably filled the last two places on the day - the Sir Michael Stoute-trained pair Smart Call (remains on 119) and Queen's
Trust (remains on 122) - and the outing is expected to put them both spot on for bigger targets in the coming weeks.
Stoute enjoyed more luck in the Yorkshire Cup on Friday, with Dartmouth (remains on 123) not needing to improve to give the trainer a third win from the last four renewals. The five-year-old showed all of his likeable attributes to get the better of Simple Verse (remains on 121) in a thrilling finish and is entitled to strip fitter if attempting to repeat last year's victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. The runner-up also shaped as if need of the run and, while her stamina for the extreme trip of the Ascot Gold Cup is not assured, she looks likely to stay beyond two miles and would be an interesting runner.
The Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday featured an exciting rematch between last year's leading three-year-old milers, Galileo Gold (remains on 126) and Ribchester (up 2 lb to 131). The former may have underperformed on the day - and now has plenty to prove given the way he finished last year - but Ribchester still deserves crediting with a bit of improvement and looks the one to beat if taking his chance in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He proved better than ever despite the unexpected switch to front-running tactics and his tactical versatility can only aid his cause in all the big races over a mile this summer.
Godolphin enjoyed further success across the two-day meeting at Newbury, including with Hawkbill (remains on 125) in the Al Rayyan Stakes. The four-year-old had been underwhelming since winning the Eclipse at Sandown in July, but bounced back with a dominant display at Newbury and will not be short of options in the coming months, having now shown his effectiveness over this longer trip. His best form has come with ease in the ground, however.
Dubai Thunder (rated 107P) is also likely to have bigger targets ahead, having looked something out of the ordinary when making a successful racecourse debut at the track on Friday. He is bred in the purple - a half-brother to the same connections' dual Group 1 winner Farhh - and is clearly an excellent prospect, although the Derby for which he was touted afterwards is likely to come too soon in his development.
Finally, Coolmore may have the 2000 Guineas winner Churchill, and a whole host of regally-bred types to go to war with at Epsom, but it is the unbeaten sprinter Caravaggio (up 1 lb to 124p) that is arguably the most exciting three-year-old in training at Ballydoyle. He was entitled to beat his six rivals in the Lacken Stakes like he did, but could hardly have been more impressive on his return from 10 months off the track and the sky looks the limit for him. He deserves to be a short-priced favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
