Juddmonte's Derby Colt Item Storms Home In The Dante

One of the least-exposed in the line-up for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York, Juddmonte's unbeaten Item (Frankel) flagged up his Epsom prospects when powering to success in the time-honoured Derby trial.

Held up early by Colin Keane, the keen-going son of the Natalma Stakes winner Capla Temptress (Lope De Vega) moved smoothly to the long-time leader Action (Frankel) a furlong out and forged on for an authoritative 2 3/4-length success. There was another 1 3/4 lengths back to the other Ballydoyle runner Christmas Day (Camelot) in third.

Confined to Kempton and Bath at two, Item was taking a significant leap forward here to being up a Group-race double for the Andrew Balding stable on the card after See The Fire in the preceding Middleton. Colin Keane, who had also partnered the operation's Legacy Link to success in the previous day's Musidora, has two live Epsom mounts now. “He was slow to come to hand earlier in the year, but I had loved him when I sat on him before he went to Kempton on his debut and he had felt like a nice horse,” he said. “That was a fair performance today–he was a little bit fresh in my hands but then got into a nice rhythm.”

“When I got to Wayne [Lordan], I thought I'd go away but he pricked his ears, had a bit of a look and and ran about a bit,” he added. “He was entitled to that on only his third run. I don't think the Derby trip will be a problem and he's a well-balanced horse, so it looks like the next step. For a big colt, he's very relaxed in his demeanour, so that's one box ticked.”

Juddmonte's Racing Manager Barry Mahon added, “He does his work nicely but is not flash at home, so we came in here a little bit unsure. The Epsom Derby is one of the best races in the world, we want to be there and let's hope we are. Juddmonte is there to compete at the top table and we breed these horses to compete in the best races.”

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Item remains unbeaten in the @ABE_Dubai Dante Stakes 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/T2MIoOvEGK

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 14, 2026

Pedigree Notes
Item is the third foal out of the aforementioned Capla Temptress, who started her career with Marco Botti and won her Grade I in the Team Valor silks before transferring to Juddmonte. Her second was the Listed Prix Matchem winner Temptable (Kingman), while she also has the two-year-old filly Tympana (St Mark's Basilica) and a yearling filly by Dark Angel.

The second dam Mrs Beeton (Dansili), who raced in Peter Harris's colours, is a half-sister to that owner-breeder's multiple Group winner Stotsfold (Barathea) who was also third in the Arlington Million, while this is the family of Pendley Farm's other stars Leporello, Poppy Carew and Calypso Grant all by Danehill. There is ample stamina in this pedigree, with the third dam Eliza Acton (Shirley Heights) a full-sister to the popular dual-purpose handicapper Top Cees.