Wisdom Needs Rain for Dante Date

Charlie Appleby is hoping for another break in the weather ahead of the reappearance of TDN Rising Star Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday. Last year's G1 Futurity Trophy and G3 Autumn S. winner is a key member of the Derby cast at present, but his obvious preference for softer conditions leads connections into a quandary ahead of this trial. “The ground will be a question mark and we will want the rain to come,” Appleby said. “We know that he is a better horse with ease in the ground, so we will be on weather watch slightly. If it's on the easy side of good, then we will look forward to seeing him run. He has wintered well and we are very happy with him.”

Interestingly, Ancient Wisdom was third on ground similar to that prevalent on the Knavesmire on Wednesday in Ascot's Listed Pat Eddery S. last July, where Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) were ahead. The latter went on to win the Listed Ascendant S. and finish runner-up in the G2 Royal Lodge S. and trainer Roger Varian said, “He's a solid horse, he's wintered well and we've been patient with him. This has always been his target and we think 10 furlongs at a track like York will suit him. I think how he runs will point us in a direction. He's in the French Derby, he's in at Epsom and he will have Royal Ascot options. I think he's a nice colt, with a good profile, who should run a good race.”

Karl Burke's Guineas contenders failed to fire earlier this month, but there is still hope that Spigot Lodge can have an English Classic winner in 2024. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's impressive Listed Newmarket S. winner Caviar Heights (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is worthy of respect here and his trainer commented, “I wouldn't want it too fast for him, but good ground will be ideal for him. He was good at Newmarket and his form was given a little bit of a boost at the weekend by the horse that won the Lingfield Derby Trial [Ambiente Friendly], that finished behind him first time out in the Feilden. He goes there with a fighting chance and it's a different challenge again, but hopefully he comes through it.”

Also over the Dante's extended 10-furlong trip is the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S., where George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) defends her title against a quintet including the TDN Rising Stars Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). While the latter only raced once after finishing third in this meeting's G3 Musidora S. last May, when third to the re-opposing Sapphire Seas (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Yarmouth's Listed John Musker Fillies' S. in September, Juddmonte's Bluestocking took part in a trio of top-level contests. They resulted in second placings in the Irish Oaks and British Champions Fillies & Mares S., but Infinite Cosmos was always going to be a long-term project.

Ryan Moore rides Infinite Cosmos and he said, “Free Wind and Bluestocking are obviously the form fillies, but the boss [Sir Michael Stoute] has his horses in good form and hopefully there is plenty more to come from Infinite Cosmos as a four-year-old. You'd hope there is progression in her after just the four starts and she comes into this in good form at home. I think the track will suit her, as will the recent rain.”