Item continues unbeaten run winning the Group 2 Dante Stakes

Victorious in yesterday’s (15th May) Gr.2 Dante Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York, Frankel colt Item is now unbeaten in three career starts and has emerged as one of the main players for next month’s Gr.1 Derby at Epsom.

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 16th May 2026:

The son of Frankel settled towards the rear, with Action (also by Frankel) setting the pace and favourite Christmas Day close up in second. As the field entered the straight, the Ballydoyle pair split, with Action racing far side and giving a target to Item, who made ground to challenge over a furlong from home. The pair drew clear and it was Balding’s charge who forged ahead in the closing stages on his way to a two and three-quarter length victory. Christmas Day stayed on for third and was a further length and three quarters adrift.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s Racing Manager, said: “He is not flash at home. He does his work nicely, but never does anything too flash. So, we came into today a little bit unsure where we lay, but that was a good performance."

“We will have to see what Colin says as to whether he’ll get further or if ten furlongs is the right trip for him. We are very happy. Juddmonte is there to compete at the top table and we breed these horses to compete in the best races. The Epsom Derby is one of the
best races in the world and we want to be there.”

This was a third victory in as many starts for the colt, who had made a three and a half-length winning debut at Kempton back in September, before winning a mile Bath novice contest by three and a half lengths later that month. He holds a Derby entry and is as short as 5/1 in places for the Classic. The last Dante Stakes winner to go on to achieve Epsom glory was Sir Michael Stoute’s Desert Crown in 2022.

A Juddmonte homebred, he is out of the Gr.1 Natalma Stakes heroine Capla Temptress and thus bred on the same cross as last week’s Gr.3 Chester Vase Stakes winner and fellow Derby hopeful Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel). His half-sister Temptable (Kingman) won the Listed Prix Matchem and the family also includes the Gr.3 Ballyroan Stakes winner and Gr.1 Irish Derby-placed sire Stellar Mass.