The Times
15th May 2025
The final piece in the Derby jigsaw puzzle and it might yet fit right in the centre. The lean and inexperienced Item ran out a clear winner of the Dante Stakes from the two O’Brien hopes to give Andrew Balding a major Epsom chance 55 years after his father Ian triumphed with Mill Reef in 1971.
Item had not run since hacking up in a 4 runner event at Bath last September four weeks after winning first time up on the all-weather at Kempton. These were flimsy form credentials to pit against the O’Brien pair Action and Christmas Day who had already been tested at the highest level. But to look at Item in the paddock, ribs showing on his gleaming chestnut colt, red-hooded to keep his mind cool before the start, was to see an athlete ready for much more than a warm-up.
Others clearly thought so too. His odds being cut from 10-1 to 11-2 before the start with Christmas Day favourite at 11-4, Action at 4-1 and the chunky little Haggas chestnut Morshdi at 3-1. In recent years we have got used to O’Brien farming these classic trials and as Action jumped out to lead with Christmas Day at his quarters it looked for a while that we were into a repeat of the pattern.
Meanwhile Colin Keane had opted to drop Item back to 7th of the 8 strong field and the next two furlongs will be amongst the most crucial of the young horse’s racing life. Item wanted to go faster and there had to be a down-the-reins conversation between horse and rider that in these middle distance races you have to accept restraint, settle your breathing for the effort at the finish.
Once in the straight Action went left towards the rail, Christmas Day out to the centre, Ballydoyle wanting to cover both options. The Godolphin second string Al Zanati produced a challenge but soon it was Item on the heels of Action that was the battle. It was a short one. He closed at the furlong pole and then drew almost three lengths clear with Christmas Day nearly two lengths away in third, Godolphin’s Kings Trail in fourth with Morshdi a disappointing fourth.
So what do we make of this as regards the Derby? Well you certainly have a pretty decent, albeit still inexperienced colt on your side. Once hitting the front Item wandered out to his left but there was a lot to admire by the length of the stride and the set of the neck as he drew away in the last 100 yards. Whether he will stay the extra 350 around the Epsom helter-skelter can’t be certain despite being by Frankel? As to whether he will be good enough to challenge the O’Brien front pairing of 5-2 favourite Benvenuto Cellini and the, to my eyes, even more impressive Chester winner Constitution River, the hard eyed bookmakers put him in at 6-1 alongside the latter.
What we can say is that 55 years after Mill Reef the Balding family have a real contender. Last month Andrew and Clare did a brilliant duet tribute to their father who died in January. After Epsom they may have to do an even more upbeat reprise.