Highest Ground primed to triumph in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes

Sir Michael Stoute’s famously patient approach to training should pay a handsome dividend at York where Highest Ground, an unbeaten Frankel colt owned and bred by the Niarchos family, can win the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on Thursday.

Traditionally a stepping stone to the Derby, it is no less interesting coming five days after an extraordinary Classic at Epsom and, if the word on Newmarket High Street is anything to go by, Highest Ground might well be a colt capable of putting it up to Serpentine at a later stage of the season.

The winner of a Leicester maiden last year, he reappeared at Haydock a fortnight ago where he beat the race-fit Waldkonig by two-and-a-half lengths in a novice over Thursday’s trip prompting Ryan Moore, sparing with his praise, to believe that this was a proper colt in the making.

Quite apart from the timing, Stoute has been in this game far too long to sacrifice a potentially smart but green and inexperienced colt on the Derby altar on only his third start and, having watched Saturday’s race when Serpentine got loose on the lead, he can only have thought his decision was vindicated.

“Michael has liked him from a long way back,” said the Niarchos family’s racing manager Alan Cooper. “He’s very low key and likes to let the horses do the talking. He was an immature yearling who has progressed mentally and physically and Michael is hopeful he has a nice future.

“He’s won his maiden, his novice and on Thursday he steps up to the big plate. It’s an ascending path but whether he gets to the top of it is a different matter.”

Thursday's Dante is nevertheless a good test for Highest Ground. Aidan O’Brien sends over Cormorant, the Derrinstown Trial winner where he beat subsequent Ascot winner Russian Emperor.

Juan Elcano, fifth in the Guineas and a bit free in the Hampton Court when fourth behind Russian Emperor will, no doubt, hit the jackpot one day if not on Thursday, while Highclere Thoroughbreds will be looking towards Thunderous as a flag bearer for this season. He was unbeaten in three starts at two and ran a good race behind Volkan Star in a Listed race at Newmarket.

At Newmarket, it will be a big weekend for the evolving racing nation of Bahrain starts with its sponsorship of a couple of races, while the Bahraini-owned Golden Horde is hot favourite for Saturday’s July Cup.

Lord Campari is clearly one reason Andrea Atzeni is staying in Newmarket rather than going to York to ride Juan Elcano and he can win the Bahrain Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, while the Queen’s Royal Ascot winner Tactical can step up to six furlongs successfully in the Tattersalls July Stakes.