Item (GB)

Declarations for Epsom's G1 Betfred Derby and G1 Betfred Oaks were confirmed Wednesday morning with 14 standing their ground for Saturday's Blue Riband and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) the only notable absentee from Friday's Oaks. Last month's G3 Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) is joined by Aidan O'Brien stablemates Action (Frankel), Christmas Day (Camelot) and Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) as the trainer seeks to enhance his record haul of 11 in the Derby. Other leading contenders Ancient Egypt (Frankel), Bay Of Brilliance (New Bay), Maltese Cross (Sea...

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...

Aidan O'Brien will have some of his big guns in action at the weekend, with both Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) and Hawk Mountain (Wootton Bassett) headlining the cast for Doncaster's G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy and Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) supplemented for Sunday's G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. While the impressive G2 Champions Juvenile winner Benvenuto Cellini was initially thought the main hope for Doncaster, O'Brien has added spice by confirming the Beresford winner Hawk Mountain as well as Lambourn's half-brother Action (Frankel). Completing the six-strong line-up for the two-year-old Group...

Justifying his G1 Futurity Trophy entry at Bath on Tuesday, Juddmonte's Item (Frankel) went through the gears to go two-for-two for the Andrew Balding stable ahead of next month's feature. Sent off the 4-6 favourite for the mile novice, the homebred who had scored at Kempton on debut earlier this month made all to readily record a 3 1/2-length success from the other previous winner Blue Courvoisier (Sea The Stars). "This isn't an easy course for a big horse like that, but the key was to educate him today and he felt...

3rd-Kempton, £11,000, Mdn, 9-3, 2yo, 7f (AWT), 1:29.78, st/sl. ITEM (GB) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Capla Temptress {Ire} {GISW-Can, GSW-US, GSP-Eng, $455,876}, by Lope de Vega {Ire}), a son of the Natalma Stakes winner, started as the 5-2 second favourite and travelled smoothly behind the early leaders. Taking control approaching the furlong pole, the homebred drew away in style to score by 3 1/2 lengths from Devon Island (Practical Joke), Godolphin's €650,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up purchase. The dam hails from the family of the multiple Group 3 winner and Arlington Million-placed...