Crowley calls it: “White Mocha could be the surprise package of the race.”
Coral ambassador discusses his Thursday rides at the Dante Festival
York – Thursday
She is a talented filly but it hasn’t quite clicked for her since she came over here from South Africa.
She ran very well in this race last year and it was her comeback run after a long time off having won the JB Met the time before. That was super race.
She then ran a good race in France where you could say she was unlucky as she got a nasty bump in the straight. She then just didn’t fire at the end of last season and she needed her first run over a mile at Kempton this season.
She’s a talented filly. It’s a good race with the likes of Coronet and Mori in there to beat but I’m sure Smart Call will run a nice race. She ran so well in it last year and I think the track and trip are perfect for her.
I think she is definitely a top of the ground filly and if she can recapture some of her best form she will be there or thereabouts.
This is a great ride to pick up in the Dante. He finished in front of Roaring Lion in the Craven, and Roaring Lion has been made favourite for this race.
White Mocha’s dam stayed very well so there won’t be a problem staying the trip. Hugo Palmer’s horses are fit and they’re hard, and White Mocha could be the surprise package in the race.
If they make Roaring Lion favourite then White Mocha should be shorter in the betting than he is. It’s a solid Dante without being a brilliant one.
Crossed Baton was impressive last time and Midlenburger won the Fielden Stakes but my horse has a chance.
Afaak is a talented horse and I was very disappointed with him last time out. I thought he ran below par at Newbury where the ground was probably slow enough for him. He seemed to down tools with me a bit that day.
He has plenty of ability and he won’t mind top of the ground. His last run at Newmarket when he was a neck behind Addeybb was a fantastic run for example.
We are hopeful rather than confident. This will be his last chance at the trip before we start stepping him up.
Mokaatil has been working nicely. He won up at Ripon last year and I thought he was bit unlucky last time out at Newmarket.
He wasn’t beaten far but just had to wait for a bit of room so could have been closer. I like this horse a lot and he’s been showing a good bit of speed. We are hopeful of a good run.
I don’t know much about him. He’s owned by Jim Hay and is by Le Havre. Jim has some really nice horses this season and he deserves them as well as he’s a great owner.
It’s Burning Lake’s first time on the track and I haven’t sat on him. Hopefully he will run well.
Irish 2000 Guineas
Elarqam is going to go for the Irish 2000 Guineas. I can’t understand how you guys make Gustav Klimt favourite over my horse to be honest.
Gustav Klimt had the advantage of a prep race over Elarqam, and we smashed him at Newmarket.
The Irish 2000 Guineas is the perfect race for Elarqam. He will go up in trip as the season progresses I’m sure but it makes sense to go for a Classic with him given his pedigree.
A lot of the horses that were around him in the 2000 Guineas are going different routes.
I expect him to come on for Newmarket and if he does then I think he’ll have a great chance, indeed even if he just runs to the same level, then he is going to be tough to beat.
Jim
