Tartan bears good news for Stoute
by Michelle Fortune, 15 May 2008
Tartan Bearer edged out Frozen Fire in a thrilling finish to the totesport.com Dante Stakes at York with odds-on favourite Twice Over only managing third.
Considered the premier trial for the Vodafone Derby, the Dante Stakes attracted a small field headed by leading Epsom contender Twice Over, who was given the all-clear to run after connections deemed conditions to be suitable.
Sent off the 4-6 favourite, Twice Over was settled in fifth by Ted Durcan with McCartney and Centennial setting a generous gallop at the head of the six-runner field. Young Pretender and Frozen Fire occupied third and fourth, while Ryan Moore was happy to let Tartan Bearer travel at the rear.
Swinging into the straight the chasing pack closed on the leading pair and Durcan wasted no time in getting to work on Twice Over, although Moore also began to get the press Tartan Bearer.
Johnny Murtagh found room on Frozen Fire and he emerged in front inside the final two furlongs as Twice Over and Tartan Bearer threw down their respective challengers.
The favourite, however, failed to quicken and it was left to Frozen Fire and Tartan Bearer to fight it out for the honours. With the line fast approaching there was little to separate the pair but Moore managed to creep into the lead at a vital time and he held on to take the Group Two by a head.
"The boss had him spot-on," said Moore.
"When he got to the front he just idled, but he really knuckled down in the last furlong and stuck his neck out when the O'Brien horse [Frozen Fire] came to him - he's a very honest horse.
"It's early days. He'll stay I think.''
Twice Over appeared sound on his return to the unsaddling enclosure with trainer Henry Cecil offering no excuses for his run. Indeed, the trainer revealed that the son of Observatory was unlikely to tackle the Vodafone Derby.
"I am not blaming the ground as all the others went on it. He came there and emptied out and he was disappointing really," said Cecil.
"Whether he needs to come back in distance or not I don't know. It is up to the Prince [Khalid Abdullah], but I don't think he will run in the Derby after that."