Darley eyes Derby ride after Dante Stakes triumph (From Gazette & Herald)

Darley eyes Derby ride after Dante Stakes triumph

Kevin Darley laid down a definite Derby marker last Wednesday at York when winning a thrilling Tote Dante Stakes on Magistretti.

The Sheriff Hutton-based jockey produced the Neville Callaghan-trained colt with a precision-timed challenge to strike the front near the finish to beat long-time leader Tuning Fork by half-a-length.

"For me, the Dante is always one of the best Derby trials, and the way this horse needed every yard of the mile and a quarter to get on top, I think he'll get the mile and a half of the Derby.

"He's still a bit immature, but he's the ideal horse to go to Epsom," said Darley, clearly hoping that he is booked to partner the colt again in Britain's premier Classic on June 7.

Magistretti is owned by Michael Tabor, whose colours were carried to success in last year's Derby by High Chapparal. The bookmaking fraternity were not overly impressed with Magistretti's winning performance. His Derby odds are now around 20-1.

Darley's Dante success came just 24 hours before he suffered defeat on Tim Easterby's Bollin Eric in the Yorkshire Cup.

Updated: 12:02 Thursday, May 22, 2003